2018-0004
INTRODUCED BY: LARRY COCHRAN, PARISH PRESIDENT
ORDINANCE NO. 18-1-11
Title
An ordinance to amend the St. Charles Parish Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, to add Section 26. Golf Carts to provide for the operation of golf carts upon public roads or streets.
Body
WHEREAS, the purpose of this ordinance shall be to establish a definitive policy within the Parish of St. Charles to promote the health, safety, and welfare of persons operating the cart(s) within the Parish of St. Charles and to protect the safety of their passengers and other users of public roads and streets; and,
WHEREAS, consistent with the provision of LA R.S. 32:299.4, the establishment of a golf cart ordinance is necessary to address the interests of public safety; and,
WHEREAS, golf carts are not designed or manufactured to be used on public streets, roads, and highways and the Parish of St. Charles in no way advocates or endorses their operations on roads; and,
WHEREAS, all persons who operate or ride upon carts on the 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 ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That the St. Charles Parish Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, is hereby amended by adding Section 26. Golf Carts as follows:
Section 15-26 - Golf Carts.
(a) A “golf cart” is defined as an electric four-wheeled vehicle originally intended for use off-road on golf courses and other green spaces whose maximum speed is twenty-five (25) miles per hour, LA R.S. 32:299.4.
(b) The operation of a golf cart upon the public roads or streets of St. Charles Parish is prohibited, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(c) A golf cart may be operated only upon parish roads or streets within the speed limits of twenty-five (25) miles per hour or less unless specifically exempted herein.
(d) A golf cart shall not be operated upon any state highway.
(e) A golf cart operated on a parish road or street shall be equipped with efficient brakes, a reliable steering apparatus, safe tires, a rearview mirror, and red reflectorized warning devices on both the front and rear of the vehicle. Such golf cart shall also be equipped with headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, and brake lamps.
(f) Any golf cart operated upon a parish road or street shall be registered with the State of Louisiana through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, as an off-road vehicle and shall display a decal issued by the office of motor vehicles.
(g) No person shall operate a golf cart upon a parish road or street without a valid driver’s license.
(h) Any golf cart operated upon a parish road or street shall have liability insurance with the same minimum limits as required by the provisions of LA R.S. 32:900(B). Documents reflecting a current policy of liability insurance as required herein shall be in the possession of the driver.
(i) Any passenger riding on the golf cart shall be seated and the number of passengers shall not exceed the amount for which the golf cart was designed.
(j) This section shall not apply to any golf carts owned and insured by a golf course or country club which is operated on the golf course during daylight hours.
(k) This Section shall not apply to any golf cart operated by a golfer or employee of a golf course or country club, which golfer or employee possesses a valid driver’s license when said golf cart is used to cross a part of a parish road where a golf course is constructed on both sides of the parish road.
(l) All golf carts authorized by this section to be operated on parish streets shall be registered with the Sheriff of St. Charles Parish and shall display a decal issued by the Sheriff. Said registration shall be done at no charge to the registrant.
(m) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment in the parish jail for not more than thirty (30) days, or both.
The foregoing ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: BENEDETTO, HOGAN, WILSON, CLULEE, GIBBS, WOODRUFF, FLETCHER, FISHER-PERRIER
NAYS: BELLOCK
ABSENT: NONE
And the ordinance was declared adopted this 22nd day of January , 2018, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
2018-0004 Revised Chapter 15-26 Amend -Golf Cart.Legal added K.1.5.18
CHAIRMAN:_________________________________________
SECRETARY:________________________________________
DLVD/PARISH PRESIDENT:____________________________
APPROVED:______________ DISAPPROVED:_____________
PARISH PRESIDENT:_________________________________
RETD/SECRETARY:__________________________________
AT:_______________ RECD BY: ________________________