A few passing clouds. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

A few passing clouds. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.

SIOUX CENTER—A change starts today (Friday, July 1) for all terrain vehicle and utility terrain vehicle users in Sioux Center and Sioux County.

Iowa law allows UTV and ATV users to ride in any of Iowa’s 99 counties, with a few restrictions.

The new law also states that all Iowa cities may regulate ATV and UTV traffic within their city limits, including primary and secondary road extensions, but cities may not charge a fee to ATV and UTV owners for use of their streets.

There are 161 UTV/ATV registered users in Sioux Center, according Sioux Center police chief Mike Halma. The city has an ordinance in place since 2014 that set in place a $25 fee along with the $18.75 for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources registration sticker for those who lived within city limits.

Because Sioux Center staff have only recently learned about the proposed legislation signed into law, city manager Scott Wynja said staff will start the process to draft and update the city’s ordinance for council consideration at its next meeting 4 p.m. Monday, July 11.

Meanwhile, Wynja said the city plans to halt the fees for the registration of ATVs to make sure it’s complying with the law.

Sioux County Recorder Jessica Kooiker said she’s still waiting for clarification from the state on if counties should also drop their fees related to county ordinances because “the law specifies cities but doesn’t mention counties. We’re not sure why, so we want to clarify that.”

Sioux County has 815 registered ATVs and 833 registered UTV/ORVs, according to Capt. Jamie Van Voorst with the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office. The county has had an ordinance in place since 2018, with an update in 2020 that increased the county fee to $25, which was also on top of the fee for the Iowa DNR sticker for those who live in the rural areas of the county.

Van Voorst said the county’s fee will likely be dropped to stay in line with what cities are being asked to do.

Van Voorst said the law change was largely the result of a 2020 survey completed by avid ATV and UTV users asking them which Iowa laws they wanted to see changed to support riding these vehicle.

After more than 4,600 people responded to the survey, the state narrowed the suggestions down to two main points: riders wanted to be able to operate their vehicles on more county and state roadways and they wanted the opportunity to ride in all 99 Iowa counties.

Those who choose to take advantage of the new law will still have to adhere to many restrictions, Van Voorst said. ATVs and UTVs have a speed limit of 35 mph, and must be operated by a person who is at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and carrying valid proof of insurance. All ATVs and UTVs must have operational headlights, tail and brake lights, horn and rearview mirrors.

Riders will be allowed to ride day or night.

There remain several restrictions on which roads ATV and UTV users will be able to travel on. ATVs and UTVs may only be operated on state highways, and may not travel on four-lane or interstate roads. They may be driven on any county unpaved gravel road.

If driving on a state two-lane highway or county highway, it must be over the most direct and accessible route to or from an all-terrain vehicle park or trail, to the nearest county road, or an authorized city street or one’s residence.

Riders may cross a four-lane highway at an intersection from an authorized road so long as it is not an Interstate highway.

ATVs and UTVs are not permitted to drive on any gravel or paved roadway that is marked under construction, closed, or a detour for normal vehicle traffic.

ATVs and UTVs may be restricted from county roadways during special events, like RAGBRAI, for a maximum of seven days consecutively or 30 days in a year.

The new state law overrides any county ordinances currently in place.

“Most people with these vehicles are pretty responsible,” Van Voorst said. “There’s always a few misbehaving drivers but that’s on occasion. For the most part, we don’t have a problem. Our rural community is pretty respective because they want to keep using these vehicles.”

SIOUX CENTER—The Sioux Center City Council reviewed changes to the proposed food truck ordinance during its second reading of the ordinance June 22.

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.