Golf Carts – Rules and Regulations

Definitions

 

City means the Village of Millington, County of Tuscola, State of Michigan.

Decal means the sticker displayed on the front of every registered golf cart within the Village limits, which are obtained by completing and submitting the proper registration form to the Millington Police Department.

Driver license means an operator’s or chauffeur’s license or permit issued to an individual by the Secretary of State under Chapter III of the Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.301 to MCL 257.329, as amended, for that individual to operate a vehicle, whether or not conditions attached to the license or permit.

Golf cart means a vehicle designed for transportation while playing the game of golf.

Maintained portion means that portion of a road improved, designated or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic.

Operate means to ride in or on, or be in actual physical control of the operation of the golf cart.

Operator means a person who operates or is in actual physical control of the operation of a golf cart.

Registration means the process through which every person intending to operate a motorized golf cart on roads or streets within the Village must follow.

Street means a road, roadway, street or right-of-way within the Village of Millington street system, but does not include a private road.  The terms road, roadway, street and right-of-way are interchangeable.

Sunset and sunrise mean that time determined by the National Weather Service on any given day.

Operation of golf carts on Village streets – A person may operate a golf cart on Village streets, subject to the following restrictions:

  • 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.
  • The operator of a golf cart shall comply with the signal requirements of MCL 257.648, as amended, that apply to the operation of a vehicle.
  • All golf carts are required to have a red reflector on the rear of the golf cart that shall be visible from all distances up to 500 feet when in front of lawful low beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle and a slow moving vehicle sign.
  • The operator of a golf cart shall obey by all sections pertaining to traffic in the Michigan Vehicle Code and the Uniform Traffic Code.
  • 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 one proceeding in the same direction.
  • A person shall not operate a golf cart on a state trunk line highway. This subsection does not prohibit a person from crossing a state trunk line highway when operating a golf cart on the streets of the Village, using the most direct line of crossing.
  • Where a usable and designated path for golf carts is provided adjacent to a road or street, a person operating a golf cart shall be required to use that path. A golf cart shall not be operated on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians.
  • 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 two-way street, or on the left or right of traffic, in an unoccupied lane, in the case of a one-way street.
  • A golf cart shall be operated at a speed not to exceed 15 miles per hour and shall not be operated on a roadway or street with a speed limit of more than 30 miles per hour except to cross that roadway or street. The Village may designate roads or classifications of roads for use by golf carts.
  • A golf cart shall not be operated on the streets of the Village during the time period from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise.
  • A person operating a golf cart or who is a passenger in a golf cart is not required to wear a crash helmet.
  • A golf cart shall not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
  • A golf cart operated on a street of the Village 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, as amended.
  • A golf cart shall not be operated during weather events with snow and/or ice on the ground.
  • Golf carts shall not be operated on a road or street in a negligent manner, endangering any person or property, or obstructing, hindering, or impeding the lawful course of travel of any motor vehicle or the lawful use by any pedestrian of public streets, sidewalks, paths, trails, walkways or parks.
  • Off-road vehicles, such as Gators, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), a multitrack or multi-wheel drive vehicle, dune buggy, or like-vehicles are not considered golf carts.

Parking regulations – The parking, stopping, and standing regulations provided in the Village Code, which may be adopted by reference therein, shall also apply to golf carts operated in the Village, as if they are motor vehicles under those provisions.

Registration and decals.

  • Golf cart owners shall register each golf cart every two (2) years by submitting their application to the Millington Police Department. Such application shall include proof of insurance as a rider to a homeowner’s or renter’s policy, or in any other form of policy selected by the applicant, for coverage of personal injury or property damage resulting from operation of the subject golf cart. The minimum amount of coverage shall be no less than $100,000.00 - 300,000.00.  The police department shall review and approve or deny each application, and provide a list of registered golf carts to the Village Clerk.
  • There shall be no charge for the registration of a golf cart, and each approved golf cart shall be issued a registration decal. The golf cart owner shall affix each decal provided by the Millington Police on a clearly visible place on the front of the golf cart. The decal shall be valid for two years.
  • Non-residents may register their golf cart with the Village as long as they have written approval from a Village resident that the resident will act as the host property for the non-resident’s golf cart. The host resident will allow the golf cart trailer to be parked on their property so as not to take up public parking spaces.
  • Failure to register a golf cart or renew an existing registration shall constitute a violation of this article.
  • The Millington Police Department retains the right to refuse to issue and/or revoke any registration decal from any golf cart for any reason that is felt appropriate to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of the Village.
  • Any police officer may temporarily suspend any registration decal, and ban further access on any public street or public property by any golf cart, when in the opinion of that officer the golf cart is being used in a manner to cause damage to public property or members of the public.
  • The Village Council reserves the right to waive the registration requirements of this ordinance for special events that utilize golf carts.

Violations and penalties

  • Any person violating any provisions of this article shall be responsible for a civil infraction. The penalty for the first offense shall be $50.00, and $100.00 for the first repeat offense. For any second or subsequent repeat offense, the fine shall be no more than $250.00
  • A court may order a person who causes damage to the environment, a road, or other public property as a result of the operation of a golf cart to pay full restitution for that damage above and beyond the penalties paid for civil infractions.