The subchapter establishes guidance in the interest of public safety.
(A) Golf carts shall not be operated on or alongside a public road or street with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour. The County Sheriff has designated certain roads that meet the speed limit criteria as being unsafe for use by golf carts, attached to Ord. 2019-2, as Exhibit “A”. The Sheriff may add and revise such roads from time to time. In such cases, no golf cart shall be operated on those designated roads.
(B) Golf carts may cross a road with a posted speed limit greater than 35 mph. However, once this segment of road has been traversed, the golf cart is still required to travel only on or along a roadway with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. Golf carts must cross in a manner that is the most direct route in order to decrease crossing distance, i.e., no riding along a road or crossing at an angle. Even if the speed limit is 35 mph or less, golf carts shall not be operated on any sections of roadway with four or more lanes. Under no circumstance is a golf cart allowed to cross a control access facility other than at bridges which cross over or under a control access facility.
(C) Any owner of a golf cart shall be responsible for all liability associated with operation of the golf cart, and must have liability insurance coverage that will cover the use of a golf cart, in an amount not less than required by state law for motor vehicles operated on public highways in the state.
(D) Anyone who operates a golf cart must be 16 years of age or older.
(E) Any person who operates a golf cart on public streets and roads must adhere to all applicable state and local laws, regulations and ordinances, including but not limited to, those banning the possession and use of alcoholic beverages, and all other illegal drugs. In addition, no golf cart containing any open container of alcohol shall be operated on public roads.
(F) The operator of the golf cart shall comply with all traffic rules and regulations adopted by the state and the county that govern the operation of motor vehicles.
(G) An operator shall not allow the number of people in the golf cart at any one time to exceed the maximum capacity specified by the manufacturer. The operator shall not allow passengers to ride on any part of a golf cart not designed to carry passengers, such as the part of the golf cart designed to carry golf bags; this is included only as an example and is not an exhaustive list.
(H) An operator shall operate the golf cart at a speed which is the lesser of either:
(1) Twenty miles per hour; or
(2) The speed that is reasonable and prudent for the existing conditions.
(I) Golf carts must be operated at the right edge of the roadway and the operator thereof must yield to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
(J) Operators must park golf carts in designated spaces in such a manner that multiple golf carts can utilize the space. All parking rules and limits apply. No parking on sidewalks is allowed.
(K) Golf carts must have basic equipment supplied by the manufacturer, including a vehicle identification or serial number. Required equipment must include: a rearview mirror, two headlights and two tail lights permanently affixed if the golf cart is operated under any conditions of limited visibility, and a rear triangle reflector of the same type required by state law.
(L) If a mechanical turn signal indicator is not installed on a golf cart, then the operator must use hand signals for turns.
(M) Violation. Any violation of this section shall be punishable as an infraction, and shall be subject to a penalty of not more than $50 as provided in G.S. § 14-4.
(Ord. 2018-01, passed 12-3-2018; Ord. 2019-2, passed 5-6-2019; Ord. passed 3-21-2022)