With the use of UTVs on city streets throughout Greencastle finally approved, city officials are now bracing for the registration and inspection process that must take place before residents can utilize the vehicles in Greencastle.
Greencastle Mayor Lynda Dunbar said the signs have been put up around town after the Greencastle City Council approved the ordinance allowing their use in March. The next step is residents registering the vehicles with city hall and then having them inspected by the Greencastle Police Department. Registration forms can be found at Greencastle City Hall, 1 North Locust St.
The registration does come with several rules and regulations. All drivers shall meet the following requirements: Be at least 18 years of age or older, possess an Indiana driver's license, have insurance, wear a seatbelt and all passengers must wear a seatbelt. Furthermore, the ability to use the UTV on city streets comes with a $100 registration fee for inspection and processing. The permit may be renewed for additional one year periods upon payment of a renewal fee of $35, which shall be paid annually. The permit cannot be transferred to other vehicles or owners.
The ordinance also states the vehicles cannot be used on city streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., cannot be driven on sidewalks, pathways or city grass and cannot be driven on Veterans Memorial Highway.
The ordinance also comes with punishment for those who do not comply with the first offense coming with a $100 fine. A second fine would be $250 and a 60 day suspension from using UTV vehicles on city streets. A third violation results in a $500 fine and a lifetime suspension.
The ordinance does not include golf carts, ATVs, three or four wheelers and slow moving vehicles.
Greencastle Police Chief Christopher Jones told The Putnam County Post his department has already done over 30 UTV inspections with more being scheduled each week moving forward. The number of inspections done include the 26 UTVs that DePauw University has.
"We will post some info on our Facebook page in the next week or so as we ramp up to full capabilities," Jones said.
Jones said in addition to DePauw's fleet, his department has also done inspections for a "handful of residents."
"We will have weekly appointments set up going forward with residents who are turning in their applications," Jones said.
Dunbar said she is looking forward to seeing residents bring their UTVs to Greencastle despite the US 231 construction that is taking place.
"Residents can take the back roads, cross over the construction and come shop at our local businesses or eat at our restaurants downtown. I think it is going to be a very good thing for Greencastle," Dunbar said.
Under the ordinance, the UTV vehicles would be allowable to navigate city streets and would require proper signage around the city. According to the ordinance, the UTV must have a dry weight of no more than 2,500 pounds, be designed for travel on at least four non highway or off highway tires, be designed for recreational use by one or more individuals, have the ability to operate at the posted speed limit and be equipped with safety belts for all passengers, have side mirrors or a rear view mirror, a traditional steering wheel, two headlights and turn signals and a brake light.
