All-purpose vehicles

Small, versatile vehicles like four-wheelers and side-by-sides are legal again on Unalaska’s public roads, after the Unalaska City Council overturned a mayoral veto keeping the all-purpose vehicles, or APVs, off the streets.

Some Unalaskans were preparing to hit the streets in their four-wheelers and side-by-sides after city council members voted Tuesday to remove a local ban on all-purpose vehicles. But on Thursday evening, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr. vetoed the change to city code, citing safety and enforcement concerns.

A city proposal to allow all-purpose vehicles on Unalaska’s streets failed to move forward Tuesday. The Unalaska City Council voted against allowing the ordinance to proceed to its next meeting. Unalaska currently prohibits the use of all-purpose vehicles — like four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles — on city streets. But a state law that went into effect this year opens the door to allow these modes of transport on public roads in places not prohibited by local law or ordinance.

The Unalaska City Council debated allowing all-purpose vehicles on the street at its meeting Tuesday night. Unalaska currently prohibits the use of all-purpose vehicles – like four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles – on city streets. But a state law that went into effect this year opens the door to allow use of these modes of transport on public roads, so the city is debating if they want to make it possible on the island, too.