Owners of side-by-sides, golf carts, and other non-highway vehicles in Knox County will be able to drive them on rural county roads starting in February.
The Knox County Board Wednesday night approved an ordinance that would allow for these vehicles on county roads, with the exception of County 10 Highway.
The ordinance originated in the Sheriff’s Department oversight committee.
“The plan is for this ordinance to take effect beginning February 1, 2023,” said board member Jeff Link, who chair’s the Sheriff’s Committee. “This gives [County Clerk Scott Erickson’s] office time to permits and to get everything in order. It’s for all County roads except County 10. No State Highways except you can cross state routes and County 10.”
Vehicle owners would have to have a $100 permit with the county. A self-inspection would need to be done that includes five photos.
“You’re required to take four photographs as, kind of, a self-inspection,” said County Board Chair Jared Hawkinson. “You take four photographs, one of each side of the vehicle, and it must display the requirements of the ordinance. The fifth photograph would be of the VIN and those photographs will remain the property of Knox County once you fill out the proper paperwork and receive the permit.”
Hawkinson added that the photos will help with identification if the vehicle is stolen. The County Clerk’s office can then supply the photos to the Sheriff’s Department to help track it down.
Knoxville and Abingdon have ordinances permitting these types of non-highway vehicles on city roads. This permit would allow for only rural roads.
Drivers would have to be 18 years of age and insured. Passengers have to be at least 10-years-old. And several pieces of safety equipment would have to be installed on the vehicles.
That equipment would include things such as working headlights, brake lights, turn signals, seatbelts, and such.
Hawkinson also indicated that in January there may be plans to hold registration blitzes to get residents pre-registered for the permit to offset the County Clerk’s office from being bombarded with vehicle owners wanting to permit their off-highway vehicles at the start of February.
