Racing events within local government jurisdiction -- Permits -- Charges -- Applicants -- Notice -- Exemption from standards
KRS 189.503
in effect189.503. Racing events within local government jurisdiction -- Permits -- Charges -- Applicants -- Notice -- Exemption from standards
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "County roads" has the same meaning as in KRS 178.010(1)(b);
(b) "Local government" means any city, county, urban-county government, consolidated local government, charter county government, or unified local government of the Commonwealth;
(c) "Participant" means any person who drives or maintains a motor vehicle used in a racing event;
(d) "Racing event" means a motor vehicle race which is sanctioned by a nationally or internationally recognized racing organization and includes preparations, practices, and qualifications for the race; and
(e) "Streets" has the same meaning as in KRS 177.365(4).
(2) A local government may provide permits to allow a racing event within its jurisdiction:
(a) On county roads;
(b) On streets;
(c) On state-maintained highways in accordance with subsection (7) of this section; or
(d) At airports, subject to approval from the relevant airport board.
(3) A local government may charge an applicant for a permit under this section:
(a) An application fee not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000); and
(b) The cost of any expenses incurred by the local government to facilitate the racing event.
(4) A local government that issues a permit for a racing event shall ensure the applicant for the permit has:
(a) Adequate insurance to pay any damages incurred because of loss or injury to any person or property;
(b) Adequate security, emergency services, and necessary facilities provided during the racing event; and
(c) The ability to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the local government, the race participants, and those attending the racing event.
(5) For the facilitation of a racing event sanctioned under this section, a local government may:
(a) Temporarily close roads, streets, highways, alleys, sidewalks, and airport runways;
(b) Reroute pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic; and
(c) Waive local ordinances and traffic regulations.
(6) No less than sixty (60) days prior to a scheduled racing event, a local government shall provide written notice to the Transportation Cabinet of any racing event permit issued under this section. The written notice shall include:
(a) The time, date, and location of the racing event;
(b) The nationally or internationally recognized racing organization sponsoring the event;
(c) A road closure plan that specifies the streets, roads, highways, alleys, sidewalks, and airport runways that will be temporarily closed or obstructed during the racing event;
(d) A traffic control plan that specifies the on-site traffic controls and detour routes to be used during the racing event;
(e) The names and phone numbers of emergency and law enforcement contacts overseeing the racing event; and
(f) If applicable, a request to cross or use a portion of a state -maintained highway as part of the route in accordance with subsection (7) of this section.
(7) The route of a racing event under this section that uses or crosses any state - maintained highway shall be subject to prior approval by the Transportation Cabinet.
(8) So long as the participants adhere to all requirements and regulations set forth by the nationally or internationally recognized racing organization sponsoring the racing event, participants in a racing event under this section shall be exempt from all vehicle equipment and operation standards of this chapter.
Effective: July 15, 2024
History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 91, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2024. -- Created 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 183, sec. 1, effective June 29, 2023. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/29/2023). Under the authority of KRS 7.136(1), the Reviser of Statutes has changed the ordering of paragraphs in subsection (1) of this statute to place the defined terms in alphabetical order. The words in the statute were not changed.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54960Fetched: 10/20/2026