UTV ORDINANCE APPROVED — On Monday, Toronto Council approved an ordinance requiring owners of utility task vehicles and golf carts to obtain a permit and a license plate to operate them on city streets and other regulations aimed at ensuring their safe use. -- Warren Scott

TORONTO — On Monday, Toronto Council approved an ordinance requiring the owners of utility task vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and golf carts to obtain a city permit and a state license plate to operate them on city streets.

It also outlined equipment and other measures deemed necessary to ensure their safe use.

Leaders of the city’s police department had proposed the ordinance for utility task vehicles, which it defines as having a steering wheel, bucket seat and not less than four non-highway tires.

Added to the ordinance following a meeting of council’s safety committee were golf carts and other “under-speed vehicles” not capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour.

The ordinance prohibits use on city streets of all-terrain vehicles, which are defined as having a handlebar for steering and three to six non-highway tires.

With its passage, owners of UTVs and USVs, such as golf carts, wanting to ride them on city streets must pay a $50 fee and have them inspected for a one-time permit and take the completed inspection certificate and proof of insurance and ownership to the county’s title office to obtain a certificate of title.

From there, the owner must obtain a license plate from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

The owner must display the city’s permit sticker and the license plate on the rear of the vehicle, measures that allow police to more easily identify the owners of vehicles when traffic violations occur.

While city police officials had sought to limit city street use of the vehicles to those 18 years of age or older, the age ultimately was reduced to 16 after it was noted that’s the age permitted for driving an automobile.

Children who would be required to be in a safety seat in an automobile may not ride in the vehicles on city streets, and the number of passengers may not exceed the number of seats.

The ordinance limits use of the vehicles on city streets to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

It also outlines lights, mirrors and other equipment required for the vehicles while noting they must adhere to traffic laws established for other vehicles.

City Police Chief Charley Daniels said UTV or ATV accident hasn’t been a major concern up to this time, but he and others wanted to put in precautions before it became commonplace.

“It’s in the best interest for the safety of citizens of Toronto,” he said.

Councilman at large Mike Burkey applauded the department, including Code Enforcement Officer Jason Hanlin; as well as City Law Director Craig Allen for their efforts in developing the legislation.

Daniels said a copy of the ordinance will be available at the police department at the City Building for those who want to know more.

In other business:

• First Ward Councilman Clark Crago announced the city’s planning and zoning commission will meet at 11 a.m. today to review blueprints for a single-family home to be built at 801 North Fourth Street by the Jefferson County Land Bank.

The former site of Rudy’s Confectionary, the vacant lot is one of three targeted by the land bank for participation in the Welcome Home Ohio program, which is aimed at making affordable housing available to qualified residents of low to moderate incomes.

Through the grant-funded program, a house currently is under construction at 612 Logan St. in Steubenville, with another planned for North Fifth Street in that city.

• Council agreed to provide $1,000 to the Toronto Youth Basketball League, a traveling basketball league with primarily Toronto youth among its members, after receiving a request for a contribution to offset costs for equipment, fees paid to the larger league of which it’s a part and other costs.

Council’s next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 13.