BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Residents wondering how a UTV ordinance would have affected them can look to Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles for answers. The clerk said the ordinance that the Fiscal Court voted down Thursday would not have changed anything for people who did not want to register their UTVs as street-legal special-purpose vehicles (SLSPV).

“This is an opt-in law, and this was an opt-in ordinance,” Skyles said of SB 63, which went into effect June 27 allowing counties and cities to establish an ordinance allowing operation of SLSPVs on roads within their borders. “It would not have been mandatory that anyone do anything different. People could have registered if they wanted. And people could have decided not to register.”

Skyles and her deputies received training earlier in the year to prepare for licensing SLSPVs. They learned how the office would collect fees and taxes and what documentation the customer would need to present.

The clerk also spoke with clerks in other counties. That includes Johnson County where “about 15” individuals had registered SLSPVs as of Monday at an average cost of $37.

“Had the ordinance passed, registering your SLSPVs would be pretty much like registering any motor vehicle,” Skyles explained.

SLSPV owners would bring a title or certificate of origin from the manufacturer to the clerk’s office. They would also bring documentation proving they paid the 6% usage tax. Without documentation, they would pay the tax at the time of registration based on the low book value of the vehicle.

“During the initial visit, SLSPV owners would pay the usage tax, plus $9 for the title and $21 for the registration,” said Skyles. “The registration fee is determined by the number of months until the end of the owner’s birth month in 2026. Additional months over one year average around $2 per month.”

Registering owners would also provide the clerk’s office with proof of insurance, the same documentation required on any other vehicle, and an inspection form for SLSPVs.

Once registered, Skyles said the SLSPVs would be subject to the same annual motor vehicle ad valorem (property) tax as other vehicles, based on local tax rates. In Martin County, Skyles’ office collects the ad valorem tax and distributes it to the state government, county government, school district, extension service, library district, health district and cities.

In addition to paying the annual ad valorem tax, an SLSPV owner would renew their plate at a yearly cost of $10.

Skyles mentioned that anyone who later decided the fees and taxes outweighed the benefits could transfer the title back to an off-road designation but would be subject to fees.

With Martin County choosing not to adopt the ordinance making UTVs legal on the road, residents

“I hope this clears up any misunderstandings that anyone might have,” said Skyles. “If anyone has questions, they can call my office or stop by.”

Had the ordinance passed, before heading to the clerk’s office, a SLSPV-hopeful would have visited Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s office for vehicle inspections. They would have paid the sheriff’s office a $25 inspection fee.