Deputies discuss UTV regulations following deadly accident
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JACKSON, Tenn. — Authorities confirm two accidents involving Utility Task Vehicles in West Tennessee within just two weeks, one of them deadly. UTVs at Bob‘s House of Honda in Jackson come with safety features such as nets and seat belts, but manager Bob Beasley said people do not always use them. “These kids, you know, they’re whooping it up and having a big time, which is all well and good until someone gets hurt,” he said. Law enforcement said driving a UTV does not require a license, but all-terrain vehicles cannot be driven on the road. “Anybody can drive one. It’s off road,” Sgt. Joseph Gill said. “They’re generally used on farms and private property.” Gill oversees the traffic division at the Madison County Sheriff‘s Office. He said they see a lot of injuries where people are not wearing seat belts. “The seat belt rule I don’t believe applies to these off-road vehicles,” Gill said. Deputies said drivers and passengers must wear a helmet if they are younger than 18 years old. Beasley said kids need to be a certain age to drive certain UTVs. “When you get above a 90 cc unit, they are for a 16-year-old and up,” he said. Beasley said they require customers to sign a form confirming the operator‘s age. He encouraged parents to keep an eye on their kids. “It’d be like turning a kid loose in a car or a truck, you know. You just don’t do it,” Beasley said. Deputies said breaking the rules could lead to a citation and fine plus court costs. The court clerk‘s office said an ATV fine can exceed $100. Bob‘s House of Honda said people also can take a safety course through the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
