Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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City clarifies seat belt issue
By Winona Whitaker, Hometown Current
Sep. 15, 2023 1:06 pm
MARENGO — The City of Marengo amended its off-rode vehicle policy last week to clarify that seat belts are required if they are available on the vehicles.
“We thought it was clear,” said City Administrator Karla Marck, but it wasn’t necessarily clear to the man on the street, she said.
The ordinance, passed more than five years ago, allows off-road vehicles and golf carts to travel on public highways, streets, roads and alleys in the city limits of Marengo and on trails, subject to the location restrictions.
The vehicles may not be operated on sidewalks except for snow removal or sidewalk maintenance. They must not travel more than 25 miles per hour, and no one may ride on another person’s lap on the vehicle.
The initial ordinance said that operators had to abide by state seat belt laws, said Marck, but the city recently revisited the ordinance and decided to make seat belt requirements clear.
“If seat belts are available, they must be used by all occupants,” the amended ordinance says.