Oneida Passes ATV Ordinance for Park
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Oneida Passes ATV Ordinance for Park
By Shane Gilreath
SCN Contributing Editor
[email protected]
During last week’s meeting of the Oneida Mayor and Aldermen, the municipality approved an ordinance regulating the use of all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, side-by-sides, and similar off-highway vehicles inside Oneida City Park. The measure, which has been previously discussed in Oneida, comes amid growing concerns across the state regarding the growing popularity of recreational off-road vehicles in public spaces.
Under the ordinance, ATVs and side-by-sides may only operate inside the park if they are fully “street legal” under Tennessee law. That means vehicles must be 
properly titled, registered, insured, and equipped for road travel, while operators must possess a valid driver’s license. Even as such allowances are made, those vehicles are restricted to roads, driveways, and parking areas already open to regular traffic. The ordinance specifically bans off-road vehicles from areas that have typically been seen as common sensical, notably grassy areas, playgrounds, athletic fields, walking trails, sidewalks, and landscaped portions of the park unless expressly authorized by the town. In doing so, it prohibits reckless or disruptive driving, mandates speed limits inside the city park, and establishes penalties of up to $50 per violation with the ordinance being enforced by local law enforcement.
Past discussions have centered on finding a balance between public safety, a primary concern, and the reality of local usage. Tennessee law already allows some off-highway vehicles to operate on certain local roads if municipalities approve them, particularly in rural and tourism-heavy communities, like Oneida, who continues to seek growth in the tourism spectrum.
Similar ordinances have appeared in other towns across East Tennessee, especially in areas with outdoor and adventure tourism sites like Windrock Park and Brimstone Recreation. At present, however, Oneida’s ordinance is narrower in scope, focusing specifically on protecting park property and pedestrian safety rather than regulating citywide road use.
