KRS 186.077: Street -legal special purpose vehicles -- Requirements -- Prohibitions --

Registration, inspection, and renewal -- Administrative regulations.

(Effective until January 1, 2028)

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Local government" means a c ity, county, charter county government, urban -

county government, consolidated local government, or unified local

government;

(b) 1. "Special purpose vehicle" means an all -terrain vehicle, utility terrain

vehicle, minitruck, pneumatic -tired military vehicle , or full -size special

purpose-built vehicle, including a vehicle that is self-constructed or built

by the original equipment manufacturer and a vehicle that has been

modified.

2. "Special purpose vehicle" does not include a low -speed vehicle as

defined in KRS 186.010; and

(c) 1. "Street-legal special purpose vehicle" means a special purpose vehicle

that meets the requirements of this section and is equipped with all of

the following:

a. One (1) or more headlamps;

b. One (1) or more tail lamps;

c. One (1) or more brake lamps;

d. A trail lamp or other lamp constructed and placed to illuminate the

registration plate with a white light;

e. One (1) or more red reflectors on the rear of the vehicle;

f. An amber electric turn system, one (1) on each side of the front of

the vehicle;

g. Amber or red electric turn signals on the rear of the vehicle;

h. A braking system, other than a parking brake;

i. A horn or other warning device;

j. A working muffler;

k. Rearview mirrors on the right and left side of the driver;

l. A windshield, unless the operator of the vehicle wears eye

protection while operating the vehicle;

m. A speedometer, illuminated for nighttime operation;

n. A roll bar or roll cage;

o. For multi-passenger vehicles, a seatbelt assembly that conforms to

the federal motor vehicle safety standard provided in 49 C.F.R.

sec. 571.209 for each designated seating position; and

p. Tires that have at least two thirty -seconds (2/32) of an inch or

greater tire tread.

2. "Street-legal special purpose vehicle" does not include a low -speed

vehicle as defined in KRS 186.010 or a vehicle primarily used for farm

or agricultural activities.

(2) A person shall not operate a street-legal special purpose vehicle on a highway if:

(a) The hig hway is located within the jurisdictional boundaries of a local

government where the operation of special purpose vehicles has not been

allowed by local ordinance;

(b) The highway is a controlled -access system, including but not limited to an

interstate or parkway; or

(c) The United States Department of Agriculture prohibits special purpose

vehicles where the highway is located.

(3) Nothing in this section authorizes the operation of a street -legal special purpose

vehicle in an area that is not open to motor vehicle use.

(4) Street-legal special purpose vehicles are prohibited from traveling a distance greater

than twenty (20) miles on a highway displaying centerline pavement markings.

(5) Minitrucks shall not be operated as street -legal special purpose vehi cles on a

highway that has been constructed pursuant to a federal highway program.

(6) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a street -legal special purpose vehicle

shall:

(a) Be registered in accordance with KRS 186.020;

(b) Be insured by the owner or operator for the payment of tort liabilities in the

same form and amounts as set forth in KRS 304.39-110 for motorcycles; and

(c) Comply with all other requirements in this chapter.

(7) Upon registration of any street -legal special purpose vehicle under KRS 186.020,

the county clerk shall issue the owner a motorcycle registration plate for the

vehicle.

(8) Street-legal special purpose vehicles shall have an inspection completed by a

certified inspector as required by KRS 186A.115.

(9) An applicant renewing his or her registration for a street -legal special purpose

vehicle pursuant to KRS 186.020 shall be considered to have certified that the

street-legal special purpose vehicle still meets all of the equipment requirements in

subsection (1)(c)1. of this section.

(10) The Transportation Cabinet shall promulgate administrative regulations in

accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to implement this section.

Effective: July 15, 2026