Festus city officials will not allow people to use utility vehicles, golf carts and other “low-speed vehicles” on city streets after discussing the topic for the past month or two.
The City Council voted 4-2 Aug. 28 to block the use of those kinds of vehicles in Festus.
Council members who voted against allowing the vehicles on city streets included Dave Boyer of Ward 1; Staci Templeton and Brian Wehner of Ward 2; and Mike Cook of Ward 4. Councilmen Bobby Venz and Kevin Dennis, both of Ward 3, voted in favor of allowing the vehicles.
Council members Jim Collier of Ward 1 and Jim Tinnin of Ward 4 were absent from the meeting.
The City Council members discussed the matter over several meetings and directed staff to investigate how other area cities of similar size handle the matter.
City Administrator Greg Camp said the low-speed vehicles are prohibited on state and county roads and “any numbered highway.”
However, he said most cities and towns in Jefferson County allow UTVs on their streets, although not necessarily golf carts.
He pointed to Arnold as the only Jefferson County city that specifically prohibits low-speed vehicles on its streets.
According to the staff report, the towns that allow UTVs on their streets have a number of stipulations, such as the operator must have and carry a valid city-issued permit and a full class F Missouri driver license, or its equivalent.
Other stipulations include requiring all UTVs to have a safety flag extending at least 7 feet above the ground and an equilateral triangular emblem with a fluorescent-orange finish and a reflective, red border at least 1-inch wide mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
Templeton and Cook both said they had safety concerns about people riding such vehicles on public streets. In addition, they said they would compare Festus more to Arnold than to other, smaller towns in the county.
Wehner said golf carts, UTVs and other similar vehicles “are not made for the roads.”
Venz said he thought people should have the right to decide for themselves whether to drive UTVs on the city’s streets, although he did not believe golf cart use should be given the same consideration.
Dennis agreed.
Camp said the matter may not be brought back for consideration for a minimum of 90 days from the meeting.
“This is dead for 90 days at least,” Mayor Sam Richards said after the vote.
Police Chief Doug Wendel said those caught using UTVs and the like on city streets could be ticketed for operating an unlicensed vehicle on city streets, a class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 15 days in jail and a $750 fine.
He said the court would decide the specific punishment within that range.