Kennett mayor lays out what vehicles are and are not legal on city streets

KENNETT, Mo. — Following a recent city council meeting, residents have become concerned with the use of motorized bicycles, manual or powered wheelchairs, and all-terrain vehicles in Kennett.

In response to questions and concerns, Mayor Roger Wheeler went on the record Monday to clear things up and specify what vehicles do or do not apply to his recent request of the Kennett Police Department concerning issuing warnings and citations to those who do not comply with current ordinances or state laws regarding use of such vehicles.

"There was no discussion about motorized bicycles," Wheeler noted.

"Motorized bicycles under 50cc, by law, can be operated, the only requirement being you have to have insurance and a driver's license, and you have to be 16 years old to get one," he said.

According to Wheeler, wheelchairs and power chairs are like pedestrians and they need to operate like pedestrians. "They have to face ongoing traffic. They must travel on the left side of the street facing ongoing traffic. They cross at cross walks, they do not jaywalk and they do not drive down the center lane," he said.

Wheeler added that four wheelers are not "road-ready" vehicles.

According to the mayor, if the all-terrain vehicles are equipped with signal lights, headlights and brake lights, and the person driving them has a valid driver's license, they can be on the highway.

"Golf carts, no way, are they road-ready vehicles," Wheeler said.

"I appreciate that everyone is stressed for gas. But the less we do, unless we make sure that we are being responsible city leaders then we can't do anything about it."