CAROLINA BEACH — Golf carts in Carolina Beach could become a thing of the past if Town Council votes to approve several proposed changes to the previously loose laws of Carolina Beach regarding golf cart use and operation on public roads. Town Council previously discussed the issue of golf cart regulations in June, and gave town staff a general direction to begin making policy.
One of the more significant proposed changes found in the presentation which will be shown during a Tuesday evening town workshop, is the complete elimination of golf carts on the roads of Carolina Beach starting in 2020. The town would however, still allow the use of slow moving vehicles in the town limits.
There will be no vote made tomorrow since the meeting is only a workshop, and there will be no public hearing, but the meeting is open to the public.
There are more than 800 golf carts in the town, and that number continues to increase as more people move to the area. Currently, there are only eight regulations in the town’s ordinances regarding golf carts, many of which are vague and enforcement has proved difficult.
The proposed changes that will be presented during the workshop include the clarification of several definitions including, golf cart, low speed vehicle, and night. For the town’s ordinances, night refers to 30 minutes before sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
A golf cart would be defined as a vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.
A low speed vehicle is a four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but less than 25 miles per hour.
What are some of the proposed changes?
- Carts operating at night must have headlights as well as tail lights
- Carts must have one fixed mirror
- Seat belts are required for every person seated on the golf cart. All seat belts must be installed before approval of cart registration. Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers including children.
- Starting on Jan. 1, 2018, all golf carts registered with the town between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017 will be grandfathered in under the current golf cart rules set forth in section 16-75 until Jan. 1, 2020. On Jan. 1, 2020, no golf carts will be allowed on streets within the jurisdiction of the Town of Carolina Beach. All new vehicles registered under this chapter must comply with the low speed vehicle provisions of this chapter beginning Jan.1, 2018 and only low speed vehicles will be permitted after Jan. 1, 2020.
- Low speed vehicles must have headlights, stop lights, turn signals, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, windshield wipers, speedometer, seat belts, and a VIN number
- Low speed vehicles would be registered and insured with the NCDOT
Michael Praats can be contacted via email at [email protected]
