By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
In one month, Barren County residents can register ATVs, minitrucks and utility terrain vehicles with the county clerk’s office, thereby making them street legal.
Barren County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell said the change is thanks to Kentucky Senate Bill 63, which became law in March 2025 without Governor Andy Beshear’s signature.
Birdwell said the new law goes into effect on June 27. Special purpose vehicles means all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, minitrucks, “pneumatic-tired military vehicles” or “full-size special purpose-built vehicles” that meet the 16 requirements set forth in law, specifically that they have one or more headlights, one or more tail lights, brake lights, registration light, reflectors, braking systems other than a parking brake, turn signals and a roll bar or roll cage.
Vehicles will be inspected by the sheriff’s office at a cost of $25.
These street-legal vehicles exclude vehicles “primarily used for farm or agricultural activities” or “low speed vehicles,” like those that are designed to operate at a speed not to exceed 25 miles per hour.” There are also restrictions on where special-purpose vehicles can be driven; they cannot be driven more than 20 miles on a highway that has center line pavement markings, in areas not open to motor vehicles or in places that do not have, or has not passed a special-purpose vehicle ordinance.
Once registered for the streets, which will be $10, the vehicles become subject to taxes, and, possibly, back taxes and sales tax, according to Birdwell.
If they so choose, Birdwell said the three local governments — Glasgow, Cave City and Park City — as well as the Barren County Fiscal Court will need to pass a street-legal ordinance, a draft of which was given to the county attorney.
