Greenwood Common Council amends ATV/UTV ordinance

In an attempt to discourage drinking and driving on ATVs and UTVs used in the city limits of Greenwood, the Greenwood City Council revised and approved an amendment to its ordinances on the vehicles during its regular meeting on Sept. 17.

During the discussion on why they were considering a change to the ordinance, Greenwood Chief of PoliceAndrew Kohnert said there has been an issue with people who have had their licenses revoked because of drinking and driving turning to using these all-terrain vehicles to still go to bars.

“You’d be surprised,” he said when asked if the amount of drinking and driving by people using ATVs and UTVs is that common. “These guys get their license suspended but they still can use their ATVs. They see the DNR fine as just a fine. The people who have these issues are repeat offenders.”

The ordinance was requested to have the language altered to prevent anyone who has a current license suspension, revocation or cancellation of their license for any reason, or who is required to have an ignition interlocking device on their motorized vehicles by court order from operating an ATV or UTV within the City of Greenwood. Disobeying the ordinance would result in a fine, although no firm number was confirmed at the meeting.

During the discussion, it was brought up that requiring drivers to have proof of a driver’s license could affect the youngest ATV/UTV riders who don’t yet have a driver’s license. Kohnert said those drivers are not the ones causing problems, as most of those riders only use the vehicles to get to and from school and obey the laws that are in place.

“This is to deter the adults that aren’t behaving and are acting like children, not the kids who are being responsible,” he said.

According to rules on ATV/UTV certification, the DNR allows drivers as young as 12 years old to operate an ATV and drivers as young as 16 years old to operate a UTV. These drivers would not have a driver’s license, so to prevent them from being affected by the change in the ordinance, it was suggested that the city council include language to state that any youth who is too young to have a driver’s license but still has the DNR certification to operate an ATV/UTV would still be able to do so.

The Greenwood City Council reviewed and approved the revision of the ordinance, which is now in effect for the City of Greenwood.