County targets off-road vehicles

Columbia County has a game plan. Now all it needs is commissioners' approval to start limiting motorized vehicles on county right-of-way.

Officials have been considering restrictions on four-wheelers and other vehicles after noticing the damage to county-owned right-of-way.

"They are tearing up right-of-way on several county roads," said Construction and Maintenance Director Kevin Lear.

County Attorney Doug Batchelor penned the restrictions, which specifically mentions four-wheelers, three-wheelers, golf cars, go-carts and others. The new rules would allow certain farm equipment and some lawn mowing equipment on rights-of-way. Violation of the ordinance will be considered a misdemeanor.

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Commissioners will vote on the first reading of the new ordinance Tuesday night at their meeting in Evans. The meeting begins in the Columbia County Government Complex Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. After that meeting, the ordinance will come up for a final vote at the commission's May 12 meeting.

Commissioner Diane Ford said the new rules are about more than protecting right-of-way property the county has spent tax money to beautify.

"It is also a safety issue," she said.

It's not the first time commissioners have dealt with motorized vehicles on county property. Last year, they banned golf cars and other motorized vehicles on the multi-purpose path along Evans-to-Locks Road and other county-owned pedestrian paths.