ATV Bill Passes House

By Tim Sturrock, The Macon Telegraph, Ga.

Mar. 15–A bill that would allow Georgia law enforcement agencies to use ATVs on public roads passed Tuesday in the Georgia House of Representatives after a similar bill passed in the Senate.

“The next step will be us agreeing on which (bill) moves on and then sending it on to the governor,” said state Rep. Allen Freeman, R-Macon.

Freeman co-sponsored the House bill and said he will work with the Senate on a compromise bill.

The bill’s intention, Freeman said, is for ATVs to be used by law enforcement officers for special events, for accessing off-road areas for search-and-rescue operations or for enforcement that would require low speeds, such as in downtown areas. But Freeman said authorities would be able to use ATVs any way they see fit.

Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena said his deputies would use them for routine traffic enforcement.

—–

Copyright (c) 2006, The Macon Telegraph, Ga.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.