The group went to the Parking lot and viewed a UTV provided by Troy Ross. It included features such as doors, lights, seatbelts and turn signals. Tom Parker stated that many features are available when the vehicle is purchased and that all features are available to be added after market, such as turn signals and horns.
Police Lieutenant Gary Young was asked to give a view of the topic of UTVs from the Police Departments perspective. He stated that the Police Department does not inspect or license any other types of vehicles and would have staffing issues to cover this type of activity. If some type of activity were to occur that required a chase, that would be problematic in that UTVs can go many places that Police Cars cannot. He also thought that if one type of vehicle were allowed on the streets, citizens would expect that they could use other types that are not as safe as a UTV.
City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that it would be imperative that the citizens be educated about what type of vehicle would be allowed. ATVs are not UTVs, etc. He asked Police Sargent Jon Pucket to report on an accident recently at Tuxedo Park. Apparently a group of teen aged individuals were playing paint gun tag on ATVs and UTVs. One of the vehicles rolled with an individual injured severely requiring a tourniquet and hospitalization.
Mayor David Bauer stated that the law-abiding citizens that are asking for UTVs to be allowed on the streets would not be playing games or disrespecting others. If requirements are developed that would regulate the type of vehicles and safety features this could be implemented and if it goes terribly wrong, it could be ended.
The committee members will send a list of requirements they would like to see for UTVs to be allowed to the Mayor and he will compile them together and provide them to the City Attorney for ordinance.