Officials discuss use of golf carts

Under age drivers; safety concern ICPD

 

IMLAY CITY — An Imlay City resident broached the subject with the Imlay City commission several months ago.

Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Tanis brought it up again at a recent meeting.

Now, commissioners will be discussing the topic of whether or not the use of golf carts should be allowed within the city limits when they meet this month.

The issue is a popular one around this time of year and one that has been discussed by many various boards throughout the area.

Safety is, of course, one of the first issues discussed, both by the governing body and law enforcement officials.

Imlay City Police Chief Brett Selby said he will let others decide whether or not it is legal to drive the carts in town.

“My concern, as always, is safety. Namely, children getting a hold of mom and dad’s golf cart and taking off on a joy ride. Are they going to be able to safely operate it on Almont. Ave., or get across M-53, or drive on any other city street safely?”, he asked. “The carts, electric or gas, are not designed to impact another motorized vehicle. It’s a recipe for bad things to happen, no question. There’s a lot of discussion to be had, for sure.”

Chief Selby then asked, “If golf carts are allowed, what do you say to the person who has an Off-Road Vehicle, or All Terrain Vehicle? Where does it end?”

Chief Selby said if a decision were made to allow carts, “we’d have to set something up to do safety inspections. That cart operators meet the state requirements. Maybe we issue permits and record each unit so we have records on the vehicles. It would certainly require more time and energy spent by our officers to do those inspections.”

While there is state law regarding the use of golf carts, state officials point out local governments have the ability to pass an ordinance or resolution concerning the use of the carts.

Related to golf carts, a summary of requirements by the Michigan Municipal League is as follows:

Public Act 491 of 2014 enables local units of government with a population of 30,000 or less to adopt a resolution to allow the use of golf carts on certain streets within their jurisdiction—streets with a speed limit of 30 MPH or less.

The city or village may maintain a recorded list of golf cart operators; if so, they may not charge operators to compile the list.

The local unit of government does not have the ability to modify the requirements or conditions established by the state, with the exception of further prohibiting golf carts on selected streets with a 30 MPH or lower speed limit.

The MML says the following conditions are required under the Michigan Vehicle Code:

An Operator

•Must be at least 16 and have a valid driver’s license.

•Must comply with signal requirements.

•Must ride as far to the right as possible.

•Is not required to wear a helmet.

Golf Carts

•Shall not be operated on sidewalks.

•May not pass between lines of traffic.

•May travel at a maximum speed of 15 MPH.

•May not be operated 1/2 hour before sunset or 1/2 hour after sunrise.

•Are only permitted to operate on streets that are 30 MPH or less.

•By local ordinance may be required to use a path adjacent to a road, over the use of the roadway, if a path adjacent to a road is provided.

The local unit may by resolution further restrict which streets golf carts are allowed on.

Requirements for other units such as ORVs and ATVs are as follows:

Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)

Municipalities are permitted to adopt an ordinance allowing ORVs and ATVs to operate on their streets in a manner allowed under NREPA.

The following conditions are required:

ORVs/ATVs

•May travel at a maximum speed of 25 MPH.

•Must have a lighted headlight and taillight.

•Driver must wear a helmet and eye protection (unless the ORV has a windshield and a roof or roll bar which meets or exceeds crash helmet standards and the driver is wearing a safety belt).

•Driver must be at least 18 years old; or, between 12 and 18, the driver must either have a valid driver’s license or have a valid ORV safety certificate on them and be under the immediate visual supervision of an adult.

•Are required to attach the license to the vehicle.

A portion of the Michigan vehicle code reads as follows: MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE (EXCERPT) Act 300 of 1949

257.657a Operation of golf cart on village, city, or township streets or state trunk line highway.

Sec. 657a.

(1) A village or city having a population of fewer than 30,000 individuals based upon the 2010 decennial census may by resolution allow the operation of golf carts on the streets of that village or city, subject to the requirements of this section. A township having a population of fewer than 30,000 individuals based upon the 2010 decennial census may by resolution, unless disapproved by the county board of commissioners under subsection (3), allow the operation of golf carts on the streets of that township, subject to the requirements of this section.

(2) If a village, city, or township allows the operation of golf carts on the streets of that village, city, or township, that village, city, or township may require those golf carts and the operators of those golf carts to be recorded on a list maintained by that village, city, or township. A village, city, or township shall not charge a fee for listing golf carts or the operators of those golf carts.

(5) A person shall not operate a golf cart on any street unless he or she is at least 16 years old and is licensed to operate a motor vehicle.

(6) The operator of a golf cart shall comply with the signal requirements of section 648 that apply to the operation of a vehicle.

(7) A person operating a golf cart upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(10) The state transportation department shall authorize operation of a golf cart under subsection (9) only on a state trunk line highway that is not an interstate highway within a local unit of government that has already adopted an ordinance under subsection (1), that serves as a connector between portions of the local unit of government that only connect through the state trunk line highway, and that meets 1 or more of the following requirements:

(a) Provides access to tourist attractions, food service establishments, fuel, motels, or other services.

(b) Serves as a connector between 2 segments of the same county road that run along discontinuous town lines.

(c) Includes a bridge or culvert that allows a golf cart to cross a river, stream, wetland, or gully that is not crossed by a street or county road on which golf carts are authorized to operate under an ordinance adopted as provided in subsection (1).

(12) Where a usable and designated path for golf carts is provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating a golf cart may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path.

(13) A person operating a golf cart shall not pass between lines of traffic, but may pass on the left of traffic moving in his or her direction in the case of a 2-way street or on the left or right of traffic in the case of a 1-way street, in an unoccupied lane.

(14) A golf cart shall not be operated on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians.

(15) A golf cart shall be operated at a speed not to exceed 15 miles per hour and shall not be operated on a state trunk line highway or a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 30 miles per hour except to cross that state trunk line highway or highway or street. A village, city, or township may, by resolution, designate roads or classifications of roads for use by golf carts under this subsection.

(16) A golf cart shall not be operated on a state trunk line highway or the streets of a city, village, or township during the time period from 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour after sunrise.

(17) A person operating a golf cart or who is a passenger in a golf cart is not required to wear a crash helmet.

(18) A person operating a golf cart on a state trunk line highway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable.

(19) This section does not apply to a police officer in the performance of his or her official duties.

(20) A golf cart operated on a street of a village, city, or township under this section is not required to be registered under this act for purposes of section 3101 of the insurance code of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101.

(21) As used in this section, “golf cart” means a vehicle designed for transportation while playing the game of golf. A village, city, or township may require a golf cart registered within its jurisdiction to meet any or all of the following vehicle safety requirements of a low-speed vehicle for approval under this section:

(a) At least 2 headlamps that comply with section 685.

(b) At least 1 tail lamp that complies with section 686.

(c) At least 1 stop lamp and 1 lamp or mechanical signal device that comply with sections 697 and 697b.

(d) At least 1 red reflector on each side of the golf cart as far to the rear as practicable and 1 red reflector on the rear of the golf cart as required for low-speed vehicles by 49 CFR 571.500.

(e) One exterior mirror mounted on the driver’s side of the golf cart and either 1 exterior mirror mounted on the passenger side of the golf cart or 1 interior mirror as required for low-speed vehicles by 49 CFR 571.500.

(f) Brakes and a parking brake that comply with section 704.

(g) A horn that complies with section 706.

(h) A windshield that complies with section 708a.

(i) A manufacturer’s identification number permanently affixed to the frame of the golf cart.

(j) Safety belts that comply with section 710a and that are used as required by section 710e.

(k) The crash helmet requirements applicable to low-speed vehicles under section 658b.