Operators of UTVs and ATVs must adhere to the following equipment requirements and restrictions while operating UTVs and ATVs within the city limits:
(A) Operators of UTVs and ATVs must be 18 years of age or older and possess a valid driver’s license.
(B) A person shall not operate a UTV or ATV unless the operator has proof of insurance complying with that required of an operator of a motor vehicle pursuant to applicable provisions of the Iowa Code, including but not limited to §§ 321.20B and 321A.21.
(C) Owners of UTVs and ATVs shall register their vehicle(s) with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and proof of such registration shall be provided upon request to any city official. Out-of-state UTV and ATV owners or operators must provide appropriate proof of registration from their home state upon request by a city official.
(D) Operators of UTVs and ATVs must adhere to all noise restrictions set forth under the city Code of Ordinances and/or any temporary restrictions established by the City Council.
(E) UTVs and ATVs must display lighted headlamps, tail lamps, and a stop lamp, at all times, while the vehicle is operated on city streets or highways.
(F) Operators of UTVs and ATVs must signal their intention to turn by means of the hand and arm as provided in Iowa Code § 321.318, or by a mechanical or electrical directional signal lamp or device with a manually operated switch controlled by the driver.
(G) Operators of UTVs and ATVs must adhere to all traffic and parking laws, codes, rules, and regulations, applicable to other motor vehicles, unless directed otherwise by this chapter.
(H) UTVs and ATVs must adhere to the following equipment requirements:
(1) UTVs must be equipped with operational safety belt or harness.
(2) UTVs and ATVs must be equipped with an operational horn with a switch controlled by the driver, and emit a sound clearly audible from at least a distance of 200 feet. The horn shall be actuated with a switch easily accessible to the driver when operating the vehicle.
(3) UTVs and ATVs must be equipped with headlamp(s) that shall be in a plane that is perpendicular to a vertical plane through the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The headlamps shall be mounted not less than 24 inches, nor more than 54 inches, above the road surface when measured to the headlamp center.
(4) UTVs and ATVs must be equipped with tail lamp(s) mounted on the rear of the vehicle, exhibiting a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear. The tail lamps shall be mounted not less than 15 inches, nor more than 72 inches, above the roadway.
(5) UTVs and ATVs must be equipped with a stop lamp that is actuated by a brake switch to indicate braking of the vehicle.
(6) A rear facing mirror providing the operator with a clear view of the road behind the UTV or ATV.
(7) Operational muffler which complies with the standards and procedures required by Iowa Code § 321I.12 and the city Code of Ordinances.
(I) All UTV occupants, except as noted below, must wear safety belts or safety harnesses, which meet the definitions set forth by Iowa Code §§ 321.445 and 321.446.
(1) Children under one year old and weighing less than 20 pound must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system while the UTV is motion.
(2) Children, ages one through six years, must be secured in a child restraint system (safety seat or booster seat) while the UTV is in motion.
(3) A child restraint system is a specially designed seating system, including a belt positioning seat or booster seat which meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The child restraint system must be used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the child must be secured in the child restraint, and the child restraint must be properly secured to the UTV.
(4) No animals will be transported in the cargo portion or bed of a UTV unless they are contained within an enclosure or securely tethered the to the UTV.
(J) The number of passengers in a UTV shall not exceed the number of factory-installed seatbelts.
(K) The number of passengers on an ATV shall not exceed the factory recommendation for passengers based on the specific make/model being operated.
(L) No open containers of alcohol are allowed on the operator or vehicle while the UTV or ATV is being operated.
(M) Drivers may not operate a UTV or ATV under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotics as prescribed under Iowa Code Chapter 321J.
(N) No UTV or ATV may be operated in a careless or reckless manner, including but not limited to, endangering any person, causing injury or damage to person or property, creating unnecessary skidding or sliding, and/or causing a wheel or wheels to lose traction or contact with the ground.
(Ord. 2420, passed 11-8-2022) Penalty, see § 75.99