(A) Required. No golf cart may be operated on any public street, road or highway within the town or on property owned or leased by the town unless the golf cart has first been registered with the Edenton Police Department as required herein. The registration shall be renewed thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this section. To evidence the registration, the owner shall be issued a biennial permit which shall be displayed in a prominent, visible place on the left rear-most portion of the golf cart at all times. The permit may contain a registration number assigned for the particular golf cart and may contain an expiration date. Lost or stolen permits are the responsibility of the owner and must be replaced before the golf cart is operated on a public street, road or highway within the town or on any property owned or leased by the town.
(B) Registration fee. A registration fee in the amount of $25.00, or such other amount as may be established and published in the schedule of fees and charges adopted by the Edenton Town Council from time to time, as amended, shall be paid to the town at the time the application for registration is filed with the Edenton Police Department or for any renewal of the application.
(C) Application. The application for registration shall be made to the Police Chief, or to some other person designated by him or her, on forms provided by the Police Department. The application may, among other things, require the owner's name, street address, mailing address, a phone number, the make, model and identification or serial number of the golf cart, proof of insurance and such other information as may be reasonably required as well as a release or disclaimer of liability which releases the town from any liability that may arise as a result of the operation of a golf cart on public streets, roads and highways within the town and on property owned or leased by the town.
(D) Procedures. The Police Chief may establish written procedures, consistent with this subchapter, setting out the process and the procedure, including the form of the application, the check list for items to be inspected and the type of form evidencing the issuance of the registration permit.
(E) Inspection. Prior to issuing the initial registration permit or any renewal thereof, the golf cart shall either be inspected pursuant to such procedures as the Police Chief may establish, to determine that:
(1) The brakes provided by the manufacturer of the golf cart are in proper working order, and
(2) The golf cart has all of the standard safety features provided by the manufacturer and will not exceed a speed of 20 miles per hour (gas powered golf carts may require a speed governor to comply with the forgoing speed limitation) nor otherwise modified in any way that creates a hazard, and
(3) The golf cart is equipped with all mechanical systems and safety equipment required by this subchatper including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) A seat belt installed at each seat; and
(b) A mechanical horn and an audible reverse warning device; and
(c) A rear vision mirror and at least two red rear reflectors or rear red lights, which reflectors or lights must be at least three inches in height and width, and
(d) A rear triangle reflector of the same type required by North Carolina law and an orange flag that is elevated at least six feet above the road surface, both of which must be installed at the rear of the golf cart.
(F) Denial and revocation. The initial registration of a golf cart may be denied or subsequently revoked if it is determined that:
(1) The application contains any material misrepresentation, or
(2) Financial responsibility requirements of the State of North Carolina (liability insurance) have not been met, or
(3) The golf cart is not in compliance with the requirements set out above, or
(4) The golf cart has been altered or customized and no longer meets the definition of a golf cart, or
(5) Equipment supplied by the manufacturer, especially safety equipment, has been removed from the golf cart or the vehicle identification or serial number removed, or
(6) Other good cause shown, including, but not limited to, a violation of this subchapter.
(G) Financial responsibility. The owner of a golf cart required to be registered with the town for use on the public streets and highways of the town shall maintain in full force and effect and continuously throughout any period of registration, liability insurance for all liability associated with operation of the golf cart in an amount not less than required by North Carolina law for motor vehicles operated on public highways in North Carolina. This shall cover the financial responsibility in the minimum amounts and in the manner defined and described in Article 9A, Chapter 20 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, as amended, or any other law of the State of North Carolina requiring financial responsibility for the registration and/or operation of a motor vehicle.
(H) Disqualified vehicles. ATV's, 4-wheel utility vehicles and other similar utility vehicles which are not manufactured for operation on a golf course and golf carts which have been modified so that it no longer meets the definition of a golf cart, may not be registered as a golf cart nor shall such vehicles be operated on the public roads, streets and highways within the town unless such vehicles are otherwise registered with and allowed under the motor vehicle laws of the State of North Carolina.
(Ord. passed 6-12-2012)