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Written by Brian Willis
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009 |
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Seán O'Donoghue HAMLIN - Members of Hamlin's town council last week approved an amended ordinance for all terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the municipality. The action was taken at the Monday, October 5, meeting of the council. The amended ordinance was read a second time, following the first reading at the September meeting of the council.
As reported previously in The Lincoln Journal, the ordinance includes special provisions for persons with disabilities wish to ride ATVs and similar vehicles on Hamlin's streets. Such methods of transport are otherwise prohibited on the streets of the town.
The amended ordinance applies not just to ATVs but also utility-terrain-vehicles (UTVs) and off-road motorcycles.
•The ordinance specifically prohibits the operation of those three kinds of vehicles within or upon any street, alley, sidewalk, parking lot or other governmentally owned (or) leased public area, or otherwise controlled property within the corporate limits of Hamlin.
•The ordinance includes special provisions for those with disabilities. In the ordinance, disabled person is defined as being "Incapacitated by illness or injury; also: physically or mentally impaired in a way that substantially limits activity especially in relation to the ability to travel by foot."
•Under the ordinance, permits will be issued by the town to allow an operator to use their unit within the town.
•The permit must be displayed on the left front side, under the controls of the ATV or on the left front fender of the UTV.
•No off-road motorcycle user will be issued a permit.
•No under 18s will be issued permits.
•Only the operator is allowed to be on the ATV or UTV.
•Those wanting to buy a special permit must have all their town fees paid up to date.
•The ordinance further provides that "any and all persons must provide from a doctor (evidence) of his or hers (sic) disability."
The matter had been discussed at the council's recent regular monthly meetings, with a number of local citizens advocating for ATVs to have greater access to the town's streets. However, Mayor Brian Barrett reminded those supporting such a move, that the only way to overturn the full ordinance prohibiting ATVs would be by referendum at the time of next summer's municipal elections in the town. -- Source: http://www.lincolnjournalinc.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=3996&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2186&hn=lincolnjournalinc&he=.com |
