342.01 OPERAITON OF UNDER-SPEED VEHICLES.

   (a)   No person shall operate an under-speed vehicle upon any street or highway except upon a street or highway having an established speed limit not greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour without a valid license. An “under-speed vehicle” is defined as a three- or four-wheel motor vehicle, including a golf cart, or utility cart vehicle that can reach a maximum speed of not less than twenty (20) miles per hour and has a gross vehicle weight of less than 3,000 pounds.

   (b)   This section does not prohibit a person operating an under-speed vehicle from proceeding across an intersection of a street or highway having a speed limit greater than thirty-five (35) miles per hour.

   (c)   As a prerequisite to obtaining a state-issued license, the owner of an under-speed vehicle who wishes to operate on a public street or highway must first submit the vehicle to an inspection by the Whitehall Police Department. The inspection must comply with the requirements established by the Ohio Department of Public Safety under Ohio R.C. 4513.02 by the City, but shall in any case include confirmation of the existence of the following equipment in working order: adequate brakes and braking system; working brake lights; warning/turn signals; headlights and tail lights; properly working steering mechanism; windshield; rear view mirror; seat belts; operational horn and appropriate tires for street use.

   The inspection fee shall be determined administratively and a certificate of inspection must be placed on the vehicle in a conspicuous area that can be easily seen by authorities. A certificate of inspection may be revoked if it is discovered the applicant stated an untruth in the application of the golf cart or the USV has ceased to comply with the relevant provision of the Traffic Code, including this Chapter 342 .

   (d)   The inspection by the Whitehall Police Department is not intended to be a safety inspection, but rather an inspection to solely determine if the golf cart or utility vehicle is equipped with all of the equipment required in subsection 342.01 (c). As such, neither the City of Whitehall, Ohio, nor the Whitehall Police Department assume any responsibility for the functioning capacity and/or road-worthiness condition of each golf cart and utility cart.

   (e)   Under-speed vehicles operated on public streets or highways must successfully pass the required vehicle inspection as defined in subsection(c), be registered in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4503, and be titled in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505. This means there must be titles and licensing for golf carts and utility cart vehicles as well as liability insurance for each golf cart and/or utility cart vehicle.

   (f)   Except as otherwise provided, all sections of the Traffic Code or substantially similar offenses shall apply to under-speed vehicles operated upon any street, highway or private property for vehicular travel.

   (g)   No person shall operate a golf cart or utility cart vehicle on a public sidewalk or other walking path.

   (h)   A person operating a golf cart or utility cart vehicle on a public roadway in the City of Whitehall, Ohio shall ensure that the headlights of the golf cart or utility cart vehicle are illuminated at all times of operation of the golf cart or utility cart vehicle.

(Ord. 085-2023. Passed 11-21-23.)