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SNOHOMISH — The City Council last week approved allowing wheeled all terrain vehicles (WATVs) on city roads with a limit of 35 miles per hour or less.
The ordinance allows both types of WATVs cleared by state law, including the quad and side-by-side styles. Drivers of these vehicles can travel all Snohomish streets with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. One place they can’t go is the north end of Bickford Avenue, which has a 45 mile per hour speed limit.
“I support the decision by the City Council and appreciate their careful approach by testing the waters with a one-year pilot program. This will provide more modes of transportation for our residents and in cooperation with Snohomish County this will help better connect wonderful neighboring communities with ours,” said Mayor John Kartak.
County Councilman Sam Low has put forth legislation to have the county open up all of its roads east of Highway 9 to WATVs except roads with a more than 35 mph speed limit and a select few others. The legislation similarly asks to open up county roads in north county. A public hearing and potential vote is set for Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 10:30 a.m. in the County Council chambers, 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.
WATVs cannot use the Old Snohomish-Monroe Road, Dubuque Road or Woods Creek Road because these roads have speed limits higher than 35 mph.
Ordinances allowing WATVs have passed in Sultan and Monroe as well as unincorporated areas near both cities. WATVs are also allowed in Granite Falls and Lake Stevens. State law allows cities to adopt ordinances regulating non-highway vehicles on public lands and streets as long as such regulations are not less stringent than those spelled out in state law.
As with other vehicles, WATV drivers in the city must have a valid driver’s license, insurance, and the vehicle must be registered. Any driver under the age of 16 must be supervised by a licensed driver over the age of 18. A motorcycle helmet is required, and the license plate must be attached to the vehicle.
Limitations on noise-level were determined at 86 decibels from a 50-foot distance, similar to the noise limits for motorcycles.
With limits in place, the council passed the ordinance in a 6-0 vote the evening of Aug. 20 with plans to review it in one year. Councilwoman Linda Redmon was absent; the sixth vote was from council’s new appointee, Councilman Paul Kaftanski (see story at right on this page).
Councilman Steve Dana suggested a pre-planning strategy, to assure that the council was not making a decision on the issue next year “at the 11th hour” and instead had time to review information prior to the summer 2020 vote.
Resident Merritt Weese spoke in favor of the ordinance, mentioning the state law passed six years prior allowed cities to regulate WATVs, and this allows for multi-modal forms of transportation.