CHAPTER XIV. TRAFFICCHAPTER XIV. TRAFFIC\ARTICLE 6. SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLES

As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except when the context requires otherwise.

(a)   “Golf cart” means any motor vehicle that has not less than three wheels in contact with the ground, an unladen weight of not more than 1,800 pounds, is designed to be and is operated at not more than 25 miles per hour and is designed to carry not more than four persons, including the driver.

(b)   “Work-Site Utility Vehicle” means any motor vehicle which is not less than 48 inches in width, has an overall length, including the bumper, of not more than 135 inches, has an unladen weight, including fuel and fluids, of more than 800 pounds and is equipped with four or more low pressure tires, a steering wheel and bench or bucket-type seating allowing at least two people to sit side-by-side, and may be equipped with a bed or cargo box for hauling materials.

(c)   “Micro-Utility Truck” means any motor vehicle which is not less than 48 inches in width, has an overall length, including the bumper, of not more than 160 inches, has an unladen weight, including fuel and fluids, of more than 1,500 pounds, can exceed 40 miles per hour as originally manufactured and is manufactured with a metal cab.

(d)   “All-Terrain Vehicle” means any motorized non-highway vehicle 50 inches or less in width, having a dry weight of 1,500 pounds or less, traveling on three or more non-highway tires, and having a seat to be straddled by the operator. As used in this definition, non-highway tire means any pneumatic tire six inches or more in width, designed for use on wheels with rim diameter of 14 inches or less.

(e)   “Special purpose vehicle” means golf cart, work-site utility vehicle, micro-utility vehicle and all-terrain vehicle, either individually or collectively.

(Ord. 408; Code 2015; Ord. 432; Ord. 444)

(a)   Golf carts may be operated upon the public highways, streets, roads and alleys within the corporate limits of the city.

(1)   No golf cart may be operated upon any public highway, street, road and alley with a posted speed limit in excess of 30 miles per hour.

(2)   No golf cart shall be operated on any interstate highway, federal highway or state highway; provided, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit a golf cart from crossing a federal or state highway with a posted speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour.

(3)   No golf cart shall be operated on any public highway, street, road or alley between sunset and sunrise unless such vehicle is equipped with headlights, taillights and reflectors in compliance with Article 17 of Chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(b)   Micro-Utility Trucks may be operated upon the public highways, streets, roads and alleys within the corporate limits of the city, except as follows:

(1)   No micro-utility truck may be operated upon any public highway, street, road and alley with a posted speed limit in excess of 30 miles per hour, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit a micro-utility truck from crossing any public highway, street, road or alley.

(2)   No micro-utility truck shall be operated on any public highway, street, road or alley unless such truck complies with the equipment requirements under Article 17 of Chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(c)   Work-Site Utility Vehicles may be operated upon the public highways, streets, roads and alleys within the corporate limits of the city, except as follows:

(1)   No work-site utility vehicle may be operated upon any public highway, street, road and alley with a posted speed limit in excess of 30 miles per hour, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit a work-site utility vehicle from crossing any public highway, street, road or alley.

(2)   No work-site utility vehicle shall be operated upon any public highway, street, road or alley between sunset and sunrise unless such vehicle is equipped with lights as required for motor vehicles under Article 17 of Chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(d)   All-Terrain Vehicles may be operated upon the public highway, streets, roads and alleys within the corporate limits of the city, except as follows:

(1)   No all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon any public highway, street, road and alley with a posted speed limit in excess of 30 miles per hour, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit an all-terrain vehicle from crossing any public highway, street, road or alley.

(2)   No all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon any public highway, street, road or alley between sunset and sunrise unless such vehicle is equipped with headlights, taillights and reflectors in compliance with Article 17 of Chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.

(e)   All special purpose vehicles shall comply with noise and muffler requirements as set forth in K.S.A. 8-1739, and amendments thereto.

(Ord. 408; Code 2015; Ord. 432; Ord. 444)

(a)   No person shall operate a special purpose vehicle on any public highway, street, road or alley within the corporate limits of the city unless such person has a valid, unrestricted, driver’s license. Violation of this section is punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or by imprisonment for not more than six months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(b)   Every person under the age of 18 shall be required to wear a helmet if operating or riding an all-terrain vehicle.

(c)   All persons are required to wear seatbelts in all special purpose vehicles if originally equipped by the manufacturer.

(d)   Every person operating a special purpose vehicle on the public highways, streets, roads, and alleys of the city shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle imposed by law.

(Ord. 408; Code 2015; Ord. 432; Ord. 444)

(a)   Before operating any special purpose vehicle on any public highway, street, road or alley within the corporate limits of the city and each calendar year thereafter, the vehicle shall be registered with the city and a license shall be obtained and placed on the vehicle. The license fee, as established by city resolution setting fees, shall be paid per calendar year and is payable in advance to the city clerk. The full amount of the license fee shall be required regardless of the time of year that the application is made.

(b)   Application for registration of a special purpose vehicle shall be made by the owner, or owner’s agent, in the office of the city clerk. The application shall be made upon forms provided by the city and each application shall contain the name of the owner, the owner’s residence address, or bona fide place of business, a brief description of the vehicle to be registered (including make, model and serial number, if applicable).

(c)   Prior to the issuance of the registration and license, each Applicant for a special purpose vehicle license shall first present such vehicle for an official inspection. If, upon inspection, such vehicle is found to be in safe mechanical condition, and upon completion of the registration application, establishing proof of insurance and payment of the fees herein provided, a license shall be issued to the owner who shall attach it to the vehicle.

(d)   “Dealers Registration” shall apply to those persons or entities licensed to sell golf carts or any other type of special purpose vehicle. A commercial dealer of golf carts or special purpose vehicles may have several golf carts for sale within his inventory. Instead of being required to purchase separate permits for each vehicle within the dealer’s inventory, the dealer shall be granted an annual universal “special purpose vehicle dealer’s permit.” This “dealer’s permit” shall then be displayed upon the particular special purpose vehicle being displayed, test driven, or inspected. The dealer must display this permit at all times when operating the vehicle on City streets.

(e)   Upon payment of the fees herein provided, a license shall be issued to the owner who shall attach it to the vehicle. The license shall be displayed in such a manner as to be clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle. The license number on the application will be recorded and then filed in city office.

(f)   It is unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter such license during the time in which the same is operative.

(g)   The license issued hereunder is not transferable. In the event of sale or other transfer of ownership of any vehicle license under the provisions of this section, the existing license and the right to use the numbered license shall expire, and the license shall be removed by the owner. It is unlawful for any person other than the person to whom the license was originally issued to have the same in his possession.

(h)   In the event a license is lost or destroyed, the city clerk, upon proper showing by the licensee and the payment of a fee, established by city resolution setting fees, shall issue a new license in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(i)    It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1)   Operate, or for the owner thereof knowingly to permit the operation, upon a public street, road, highway, or alley within the corporate limits of the city any special purpose vehicle which is not registered and which does not have attached thereto and displayed thereon the license assigned thereto by the city for the current registration year.

(2)   Display, cause or permit to be displayed or to have in possession, any registration receipt, registration license or registration decal knowing the same to be fictitious or to have been canceled, revoked, suspended or altered. A violation of this subsection (2) shall constitute an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $50.00 and forfeiture of the item. A mandatory court appearance shall be required of any person violating this subsection.

(3)   Lend to or knowingly permit the use by one not entitled thereto any registration receipt, registration license plate or registration decal issued to the person so lending or permitting the use thereof.

(4)   Remove, conceal, alter, mark or deface the license number plate, plates or decals, or any other mark of identification upon any special purpose vehicle. Licenses shall be kept clean and placed as required by law so as to be plainly visible and legible.

(5)   Carry or display a registered number plate or plates or registration decal upon any special purpose vehicle not lawfully issued for such vehicle.

(6)   Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this section, shall forfeit the license and be punished by a fine of not more than $100.00. The person may be eligible to obtain a new license after 12 months.

(Ord. 408; Code 2015; Ord. 432; Ord. 444)

(a)   Every owner of a special purpose vehicle shall provide liability coverage in accordance with the most current adopted Standard Traffic Ordinance, and amendments thereto, and the Kansas Automobile Injury Reparations Act, K.S.A. 40-3101, et seq., and amendments thereto.

(b)   All provisions of the most current adopted Standard Traffic Ordinance with regards to liability insurance, and amendments thereto, including penalty provisions, shall be applicable to all owners and operators of special purpose vehicles.

(Ord. 408; Code 2015; Ord. 432; Ord. 444)