Golf Carts in the Town of Pittsboro, North Carolina
Golf carts are now allowed in the public streets of Pittsboro NC. However, there are some rules, guidelines and safety precautions that must be taken to be lawful.
The Golf Cart Guys, LLC sells Town of Pittsboro compliant golf carts; OR we can modify yours with the necessary safely equipment to pass inspection. Each year the carts will need to be inspected prior to re-registration. We can handle that for you as well. Call us today!
If you would like to have a street legal golf cart where there is NO Town of Pittsboro inspection and yearly registration, ask us about our Low Speed Vehicles (LSV). It is basically a golf cart specially manufactured as a registered licensed vehicle in NC with a VIN, DMV title, and all. Drive it anywhere under 35mph without hesitation; from Pittsboro to the beach. Learn more about LSV’s
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING TOWN OF PITTSBORO
GOLF CART ORDINANCE
The establishment of a golf cart ordinance is necessary to address the interests of public safety. Golf carts, are not designed or manufactured to be used on public streets, roads and highways, hereinafter “road(s),” and the Town of Pittsboro in no way advocates or endorses their operation on roads. The Town of Pittsboro, by regulating such operation is merely trying to address obvious safety issues, and adoption of this Ordinance is not to be relied upon as a determination that operation on roads is safe or advisable if done in accordance with this Ordinance. All persons who operate or ride upon carts on roads do so at their own risk and peril and must be observant of and attentive to the safety of themselves and others, including their passengers, other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The Town of Pittsboro has no liability under any theory of liability for permitting carts to be operated on roads under special legislation granted by the State Legislature. Any person who operates a cart must procure liability insurance sufficient to cover the risks involved in using a cart on the roads of the Town of Pittsboro.
(A) PURPOSE: The purpose of this ordinance shall be to establish a Golf Cart Ordinance within the Town of Pittsboro to promote the health, safety and welfare of persons operating cart(s) within the Town of Pittsboro and to protect the safety of their passengers and other users of roads.
(B) DEFINITIONS: For the purpose of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings.
- Golf Cart: 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
MPH. G.S. 20-4.01(12a).
- Driver’s License: A valid license issued to operate a motor vehicle issued by North
Carolina or any other state.
- Financial Responsibility: Liability insurance coverage on a golf cart in an amount not less than required by North Carolina law for motor vehicles operated on public highways in the State of North Carolina.
- Operator: Only persons over 16 years of age and holding a valid driver’s license may
operate a golf cart on roads.
SECTION 1. RULES AND REGULATIONS
This ordinance is to establish guidance in the interest of public safety. Golf carts hereinafter:
- Golf carts shall not be operated on or alongside a public road or street with a posted speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour.
- Golf carts may cross a road with a posted speed limit greater than 35 mph. However, once this segment of road has been traversed, the golf cart is still required to travel only on or along a roadway with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. Golf carts must cross in a manner that is the most direct route in order to decrease crossing distance, i.e. no riding along a road or crossing at an angle. Under no circumstance is a golf cart allowed to cross a control access facility other than at bridges which cross over or under a control access facility.
- Any person who operates a golf cart must be responsible for all liability associated with operation of the golf cart and must have liability insurance coverage which will cover the use of the golf cart in an amount not less than required by North Carolina law for motor vehicles operated on public highways in the State of North Carolina.
- Any person who operates a golf cart must be at least sixteen (16) years of age or older.
No person may operate a golf cart unless that person is licensed to drive upon the public streets, roads and highways of North Carolina and then, only in accordance with such valid driver’s license. Golf cart operators must carry their driver’s license on their person at all times while operating a golf cart on public roads.
- Any person who operates a golf cart on public streets and roads must adhere to all applicable State and local laws, regulations and ordinances, including but not limited to those banning the possession and use of alcoholic beverages, and all other illegal drugs. In addition, no golf cart containing any open container of alcohol shall be operated on public road.
- The operator of the golf cart shall comply with all traffic rules and regulations adopted by the State of North Carolina and the Town of Pittsboro which governs the operation of motor vehicles.
- An operator may not allow the number of people in the golf cart at any one time to exceed the maximum capacity specified by the manufacturer. The operator shall not allow passengers to ride on any part of a golf cart not designed to carry passengers, such as the part of the golf cart designed to carry golf bags.
- a. In no instance shall a golf cart be operated at a speed greater than 20 miles per hou
No golf cart may be operated at a speed greater than reasonable and prudent for the existing conditions.
- Golf carts must be operated at the right edge of the roadway and must yield to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
- Golf carts must park in designated spaces in such a manner that multiple golf carts can utilize the space. All parking rules and limits apply. No parking on sidewalks is allowed.
- Golf carts must have basic equipment supplied by the manufacturer, including a vehicle identification or serial number. Such equipment must include all safety devices as installed by said manufacturer, including rear view mirror and a rear triangle reflector of the same type required by North Carolina law.
- Golf carts without lights may be operated only during daylight hours. Golf carts meeting the requirements set forth below may operate at any time:
- a. Golf carts having two (2) operating headlights, one on each side of the front of the golf cart and two (2) operating tail lights, one on each side of the rear of the cart, all four (4) lights must be visible from a distance of 500 feet; and a mechanical turn signal indica
- All Golf carts must be equipped with a type 1 or type 2 seat belt assembly conforming to the requirements set forth in the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. § 571.500. (2001-356, s. 5.)
- All occupants must comply with North Carolina’s Child Passenger Safety Law – N.C.G.S
20-137.1
SECTION 2. REGISTRATION, INSPECTION AND FEE PRIOR TO USAGE
- All golf carts must complete a golf cart registration application and submit to Town of Pittsboro for approval. Before driving on public roads, the operator of a golf cart must have a valid issued registration.
- Each owner must have proof of ownership, and liability insurance, and a completed Waiver of Liability, releasing the Town of Pittsboro from liability that may arise as a result of operation of a golf cart inside the Town of Pittsboro. These documents must be in the golf cart at all times while in operation on public roads.
- All golf carts must meet the requirements or minimum standards of safety equipment as set forth above in this Ordinance.
- All golf operators must present a valid driver’s license while operating a golf cart on a
public road.
- The registration sticker shall be valid for no more than one year and must be visible on a golf cart operated on a public road.
- Lost or Stolen Permit/Stickers are the responsibility of the owner and must be replaced before the golf cart is operated on a public road.
SECTION 3. ENFORCEMENT
Violation of the provisions of this Ordinance shall constitute an infraction in accordance with
Chapter 20 of the North Carolina General Statutes, the maximum penalty for which shall be
$50.00 dollars.
Adopted this the 28th day of September, 2015.