(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 Town 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 an annual permit which shall be displayed in a prominent, visible place on the rear fender of the golf cart or at such other place as may be approved by the Police Department. The permit may contain a registration number assigned for the particular golf cart and may contain an expiration date.
(B) Registration fee. A registration fee in the amount of $50, or such other amount as may be established and published in the schedule of fees and charges adopted by the 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 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 town. 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 by the town for accidents involving the registered golf cart.
(D) Procedures. The Police Chief may establish written procedures, consistent with this chapter, 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 sticker, plate or tag 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 or in place of inspection, the Police Department may require photographs submitted of the golf cart, to determine that:
(1) The golf cart is equipped with a rear vision mirror, at least two red rear reflectors at least three inches in height and width, head lights and brake lights;
(2) The golf cart is equipped with a reflective “slow moving sign” or “flag” on the rear of the cart;
(3) The brakes provided by the manufacturer of the golf cart are in proper working order;
(4) The golf cart has all of the standard safety features provided by the manufacturer and has not been modified to exceed a speed of 20 mph nor otherwise modified in any way that creates a hazard; and
(5) The golf cart is equipped with all mechanical systems and safety equipment required by this chapter.
(F) Denial and revocation. The initial registration of a golf cart may be denied or subsequently revoked by the Police Chief if it is determined that:
(1) The application contains any material misrepresentation;
(2) Financial responsibility requirements of the state (liability insurance) or otherwise set forth in this chapter have not been met;
(3) The golf cart is not in compliance with the requirements set out above;
(4) The golf cart has been altered or customized and no longer meets the definition of a golf cart;
(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 repeated violations of this chapter.
(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, the financial responsibility in the minimum amounts and in the manner defined and described in G.S. Ch. 20, Art. 9A, as amended, or any other law of the state requiring financial responsibility for the registration and/or operation of a motor vehicle. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the owner of the golf cart must maintain liability insurance on the golf cart in an amount not less than $100,000 liability limit per occurrence to cover the risk involved in using a golf cart on a public streets and roads in the state. The operator must possess proof of such insurance at the time of the operation of the golf cart.
(H) Disqualified vehicles. ATVs, four-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.
(Ord. passed - -; Ord. passed 3-8-2011; Ord. passed 5-3-2011; Ord. passed 9-6-2011) Penalty, see § 73.99