SOUTHPORT — 16-year-olds with graduated licenses will now be able to drive golf carts in Southport, after a contentious board of aldermen vote on Aug. 13. The city aldermen took up its golf cart ordinance not only to lower age restrictions but amend code to address safety issues in the city.
In a 4-2 vote, with alderman Lowe Davis and Mayor Pro Tem Karen Mosteller dissenting, the minimum driving age moved from 18 to 16 years old, but for teenagers who have a graduated license. This means that drivers between ages 15 and 17 must have 60 hours of logged driving practice, including at night, an already existing learner permit, a clean record, schooling documentation and a road test, according to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
Staff told the aldermen changes were suggested by Southport Police Department to align with state law. Police leadership wanted to update the ordinance for more effective enforcement and prevent confusion with what the state allows versus city ordinance.
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The state recognizes 16-year-olds can drive golf carts, as it treats the vehicles the same as cars, which only require provisional licenses to operate. However, Southport has always mandated golf carts be driven by adults — at least age 18 — noting an enclosed vehicle differs from open-sided carts, with the latter being more dangerous.
“I mean, a car, even if it’s a convertible, has protection on the sides,” Davis said during the meeting. “Golf carts are wide open. And there’s a big difference between 16 years old and 18 years old.”
Southport has been in the minority with its rules, as other Brunswick County municipalities share similar guidelines as the state, with Bald Head Island and Oak Island allowing golf carts to be driven by 16-year-olds.
Dissenters Davis and Mosteller worried a lack of experience would lead to more collisions or accidents. Mosteller pointed out golf carts weren’t equipped with airbags and thought enforcement measures could become more complicated and strained.
“So, we’re creating an enforcement issue that you’re going to have to discern whether or not that’s [a 16-year-old],” she said. “At my age, a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old don’t look any different.”
Port City Daily reached out to the city to inquire about how much work the change would create for the Southport Police Department, how it would impact enforcement, if more officers would be needed and what enforcement would look like. Major Matthew Burgess said: “Aligning the ordinance with state law should not result in a noticeable increase in officers’ workload.”
There are over 900 golf carts registered in the city.
Mosteller further cited information from a study conducted by the AAA Foundation, which states that 16- to 17-year-olds have double the crash rate of 18- and 19-year-old drivers. The study was published in 2017 and used information from 2014 and 2015. A study from 2024 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety noted that indeed, 16- to 17-year-olds had the highest risk of a fatal crash.
Alderman Marc Spencer was among the most vocal in support of the age change. He pointed out the speed limit for golf carts in Southport was 20 miles an hour.
“We’re not talking about 70 miles an hour on I-40,” he said. “Those statistics that you’re coming up with are people that are going very fast and we’re in a very slow environment.”
Along with Gross, Alderman Rebecca Kelley openly expressed support. They argued if 16-year-olds can operate a car, they should be able to operate a golf cart.
“The bigger piece is if somebody’s 16, they can do a heck of a lot more damage in a car than they can do in a golf cart,” Kelley added.
Alderman Robert Carroll, while not vocal in his support during the meeting, told Port City Daily he trusted staff’s recommendation, particularly the fact the police department brought forth the changes.
Davis made a motion to table the decision, but it was only supported by Mosteller and failed on the floor as a result. Spencer motioned to accept staff’s proposal, with the caveat that the 16- and 17-year-old drivers must have a graduated license.
“I’d just like to say that I like most everything in this ordinance and I understand the rationale for all of it except for the age difference and I hate to vote against this entire ordinance because of this one provision, but I will,” Davis said.
Other amendments include:
- Requiring a horn or other audible warning device as opposed to just an air horn
- Stipulating that golf cart stickers are non-transferrable
- Occupancy cannot exceed the number of seats available
- Golf cart drivers must not impede traffic and when possible, must pull over to allow accumulated traffic to pass
- Clarifies intoxicated driving, open containers and drinking and driving are not allowed
- Proof of insurance must be in the vehicle
- And that a golf cart can only be used for commercial transportation if the operator and vehicle have obtained all permits, licenses, and approvals required
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