COLUMBIA, S.C. — Side-by-side utility terrain vehicles will be allowed on some South Carolina public roads beginning Nov. 18, when a new state law takes effect, but state officials warn that taking one onto a street before then can still bring a ticket.
The measure, Senate Bill 222, was pitched as a practical way to get around in rural parts of the state. It comes with a long list of conditions, and owners who want to ride on the road will need to register their machines with the state Department of Motor Vehicles first.
Not every UTV qualifies. A street-legal model must be four-wheel drive with an engine of at least 450cc, be capable of topping 55 mph, weigh no more than 4,000 pounds gross and be no wider than 80 inches. It also needs factory Type 2 seat belts at every seat, plus headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals that work.
Owners must title and register the vehicle the same way they would a car, carry liability insurance and mount a state-issued plate on the back. Registration costs $10 for two years, and UTVs registered for road use do not owe county property taxes. Owners who keep their machines off public roads do not have to register or insure them.
The rules for riders are strict. The driver must be 17 or older with a valid Class D license; beginner permits and moped or motorcycle licenses do not count. Anyone under 21 aboard needs a helmet with a face shield or goggles, and children younger than 8 may not ride on public roads at all.
Where a UTV can go is limited as well. They are restricted to roads posted at 55 mph or below, are barred from interstates and must stay within 10 miles of the address on the registration, or of a gated community entrance if the owner lives inside one. Cities and counties can further limit when and where they run, and operators are subject to the same DUI, speeding, seat belt and hands-free rules as other drivers.
Section: More Clinton SC crime news
Filed under: Clinton SC Traffic News
