Senate Bill 356 (2026) — Utility terrain vehicles
SB 356
Florida Bills
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 356 By Senator Wright 8-00442-26 2026356__ Page 1 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to utility terrain vehicles; creating 2 s. 316.21275, F.S.; defining terms; authorizing the 3 operation of a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) during 4 all hours; authorizing the operation of UTVs on 5 certain roadways; authorizing the operation of UTVs on 6 certain parts of the State Highway System; authorizing 7 the Department of Transportation to prohibit the 8 operation of UTVs under certain circumstances; 9 authorizing persons possessing certain licenses to 10 operate a UTV; requiring owners or operators of a UTV 11 to comply with certain requirements and regulations; 12 authorizing a county or municipality to restrict or 13 prohibit the operation of UTVs under certain 14 circumstances; providing civil penalties; amending s. 15 320.0847, F.S.; requiring the Department of Highway 16 Safety and Motor Vehicles to issue a license plate to 17 the owner or lessee of a vehicle registered as a UTV 18 upon payment of certain taxes and fees; requiring that 19 license plates for UTVs comply with specified 20 provisions; providing an effective date. 21 22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 23 24
Section
Section 316.21275, Florida Statutes, is created 25 to read: 26 316.21275 Operation of a UTV on certain roadways.— 27
(1) As used in this section, the term: 28 (a) “Direct supervision” means a person is in the adjacent 29 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 356 8-00442-26 2026356__ Page 2 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. front passenger seat of the UTV being operated. 30 (b) “Utility terrain vehicle” or “UTV” means a vehicle less 31 than 70 inches in width which has at least two seats allowing 32 passengers to sit in a side-by-side manner, is operated by foot 33 controls and a steering wheel, and is equipped with headlamps, 34 stop lamps, turn signals, tail lamps, rearview mirrors, a 35 windshield, seat belts, and a horn. 36
(2) A UTV may be operated during all hours. 37
(3) A UTV may be operated only upon: 38 (
a) A two-lane county road with a posted speed limit of 39 less than 55 miles per hour which has been designated for UTV 40 use by a county; or 41 (
b) A two-lane municipal street with a posted speed limit 42 of less than 55 miles per hour which has been designated for UTV 43 use by a municipality. 44 45 Before making such designation, the responsible county or 46 municipality must first determine that a UTV may safely travel 47 on or cross the public road or street, considering factors 48 including the speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle 49 traffic using the road or street. 50
(4) A person may operate a UTV on the State Highway System 51 only when necessary to cross the highway at an angle of 52 approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the roadway and at 53 a place where a quick and safe crossing can be made. The 54 Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of UTVs 55 on any road in its jurisdiction if it determines that such 56 prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. 57
(5) A person may operate a UTV only if he or she possesses 58 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 356 8-00442-26 2026356__ Page 3 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. a driver license pursuant to s. 322.18, or if he or she 59 possesses a learner’s driver license pursuant to s. 322.1615 and 60 is under the direct supervision of a licensed driver. 61
(6) The owner or operator of a UTV must comply with all of 62 the following requirements and regulations: 63 (
a) Obey traffic regulations enumerated in this
chapter and 64 operate the UTV with due care. 65 (
b) Provide proof of ownership under
chapter 317 upon 66 request of a law enforcement officer. 67 (
c) Fulfill all insurance requirements pursuant to ss. 68 324.022 and 627.736. 69 (
d) Ensure that the UTV has the proper license plate 70 pursuant to s. 320.0847. 71 (
e) Maintain the registration certificate or a copy thereof 72 in the UTV pursuant to s. 320.0605. 73
(7) A county or municipality may enact an ordinance 74 regarding UTV operation and equipment which is more restrictive 75 than the requirements enumerated in this section. 76
(8) A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of 77 a UTV on any road or street under its jurisdiction if the 78 governing body of such county or municipality determines that 79 such prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. 80
(9) A violation of this
section is a noncriminal traffic 81 infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation, as provided in 82
chapter 318. 83
Section
Section 320.0847, Florida Statutes, is amended 84 to read: 85 320.0847 Mini truck, utility terrain vehicle, and low-speed 86 vehicle license plates.— 87 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 356 8-00442-26 2026356__ Page 4 of 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
(1) The department shall issue a license plate to the owner 88 or lessee of any vehicle registered as a low-speed vehicle as 89 defined in s. 320.01, or a mini truck as defined in s. 320.01, 90 or a utility terrain vehicle as defined in s. 316.21275 upon 91 payment of the appropriate license taxes and fees prescribed in 92 s. 320.08. 93
(2) The license plate for a low-speed vehicle, or mini 94 truck, or utility terrain vehicle must shall comply with the 95 provisions of s. 320.06. 96