Magistrates Jeff Botts, foreground, Brad Groce, right middle, and Marty Kinslow, background, ask questions about Park City's amphitheater to Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd during a Dec. 16 Administration and Budget committee in this Glasgow News 1 file photo. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Barren County magistrates are expected to weigh in on a new law allowing ATVs, minitrucks and utility terrain vehicles on county roads before the end of the year.
Kentucky Senate Bill 63 became law in March 2025 without the governor’s signature. The law allows “special-purpose vehicles,” such as side-by-sides and utility terrain vehicles, to be registered with the county clerk’s office and become street legal, assuming they pass inspection.
The law requires local governmental authority to pass an ordinance allowing special-purpose vehicles on roads. In Barren County, only Park City’s city commission has addressed special-purpose vehicles — the commissioners voted to allow them on city streets.
After scratching it from the fiscal court’s June 3 agenda, Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd brought up the special-purpose vehicle ordinance to the magistrates of the administration and budget committee. She said a business in Cave City needed the county to pass an ordinance because the owners were trying to start a UTV rental business so that people could drive UTVs in Mammoth Cave National Park.
“I’m for it,” Magistrate Jeff Botts said.
Byrd said she had the Hart County ordinance that “everybody’s using” as a base for their county-specific ordinance. She said Barren County Attorney Mike Richardson is looking at a tentative ordinance that will be sent to each magistrate for their review before the required two readings before the fiscal court.
At the Aug. 19 Barren County Fiscal Court, Barren County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell announced her office had registered the first special-purpose vehicle.
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