10.76 — GOLF CARTS

The California Streets and Highways Code authorizes the city to establish a golf cart transportation plan. It is the intent of this legislation and the city to continue a golf cart transportation system to accommodate the travel needs of commuters and other users. It is the further intent of the legislation to authorize the city to carry out a golf cart transportation program that extends the use of the golf cart beyond the existing law; provided that the city establish golf cart lanes, minimum golf cart standards, operation requirements, permit procedures and reporting practices as provided therein.

(Ord. 703 § 1, 1993; Ord. 895 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1334 § 8, 2018)

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the definitions respectfully ascribed to them in this section. Whenever any words or phrases used in this chapter are not defined but are defined in the California Vehicle Code and amendments thereto, such definitions shall apply.

"City" means the city of Palm Desert.

"Golf cart" means a motor vehicle having not less than three wheels in contact with the ground and an unladen weight of less than one thousand three hundred pounds which is designed to be and is operated at not more than twenty-five miles per hour and is designed to carry not more than four persons, including the driver. For purposes of this chapter, "golf cart" includes, but is not limited to, a utility style golf cart that is used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart.

"Golf cart lanes" is synonymous with "golf cart routes" and means all publicly owned facilities that provide for golf cart travel including roadways designated by signs or permanent markings which are shared with pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists in the plan area. There shall be three categories of golf cart lanes:

1. Class I golf cart lanes provide a right-of-way completely separated from any highway, with cross traffic by other motorists minimized, and designated for the exclusive use of golf carts, or, where feasibly safe and when no parallel improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists are available, designated for the shared use of golf carts, bicyclists and pedestrians.

2. Class II golf cart lanes provide a restricted right-of-way on a highway designated by striping and signage for the exclusive or semi-exclusive use of golf carts, with through travel by motor vehicles or pedestrians prohibited, but with vehicle parking and cross traffic by pedestrians and other motorists permitted.

3. Class III golf cart lanes are lanes on local streets with speed limits of forty-five miles per hour or less and are shared with pedestrians, bicyclists and other motorists.

(Ord. 703 § 1, 1993; Ord. 895 § 2, 1998; Ord. 1174 § 1, 2008; Ord. 1334 § 9, 2018)

• A. The city council finds that minimum golf cart design criteria for operation on golf cart lanes

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have been established by the city engineer and golf cart transportation committee.

• B. The following elements are minimum design requirements:

  1. The golf cart must be electrically powered.

  2. The golf cart must be the shape and size that conforms to the industry standards of manufactured golf carts.

  3. The golf cart must present an unobstructed view to the rear from the driver's seat.

  4. The golf cart must be equipped and safely operated with:

     • a. Brake lights;

     • b. Front and rear turn signal indicator lights;

     • c. Either left side and right side mirrors, left side and rear view mirrors, or a multidirectional cross bar rear mirror;

     • d. Head lamps;

     • e. Rear lights;

     • f. Reflectors that conform to CVC Section 24607;

     • g. Parking brake;

     • h. Horn;

     • i. Windshield;

     • j. Seat belts for the driver and for all passengers;

     • k. Safely equipped or properly loaded to conform with CVC Section 24002;

     • l. A golf cart locking device;

     • m. A covered passenger compartment;

• n. A backup buzzer.

• (Ord. 703 § 1, 1993; Ord. 895 § 3, 1998; Ord. 1174 § 2, 2008)

• A. The city council finds that minimum golf cart operator safety criteria for golf cart use on golf cart lanes have been established by the city engineer, police captain and golf cart transportation committee.

• B. The following safety criteria for operators are the minimum criteria set and adopted by the city council:

  1. A golf cart operator must have a valid driver's license issued by the state of California or an acceptable foreign jurisdiction or be physically disabled and determined to be able to operate an electric golf cart by their physician in writing and the city and to possess knowledge of traffic signals, signs, rules, laws, and safety sufficient to have

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obtained a driver's license in the absence of the disability.

2. Golf cart operators must comply with the financial responsibility requirements of Vehicle Code Section 16020 et seq.

3. Golf cart operators must maintain golf cart in a safe condition and ensure that an unobstructed view to the rear is maintained at all times the cart is in operation on public streets.

4. Golf cart operators may only operate golf carts on public streets only during the time period between one hour prior to sunrise and one hour after sunset.

5. A maximum of four persons may ride in the golf cart and may only ride in the main passenger compartment equipped with safety belts. The driver and all passengers must wear safety belts at all times that the golf cart is being operated on public streets.

6. Except as otherwise provided by law, golf cart operators:

   • a. Must have a valid city golf cart permit for operation on public streets;

   • b. May travel on residential or business district streets with speed limits of twentyfive m.p.h. or less;

   • c. May not travel on or along streets with speed limits in excess of twenty-five m.p.h. except on designated golf cart routes; and

   • d. May not travel on, along or across state highways, except to cross at controlled intersections as designated in the golf cart transportation plan and indicated on the golf cart route map.

7. Golf cart permits issued by the city are valid only within, and designated golf cart routes do not extend beyond, the geographic boundaries of the city. Possession of a valid city golf cart permit does not authorize travel on or along public streets outside the geographic boundaries of the city.

• (Ord. 703 § 1, 1993; Ord. 895 § 4, 1998; Ord. 1174 § 3, 2008; Ord. 1334 § 10, 2018)

A golf cart permit process has been established by the city council. Permitted golf carts must meet the minimum golf cart design criteria. Permitted golf cart operators must meet the minimum golf cart operator safety criteria. In addition, the city shall establish the following process for permitting golf carts:

• A. An inspection process completed by the city;

• B. A permit decal showing proof of compliance. The decal shall be visibly posted on the right rear fender of the permitted golf cart;

• C. A permit fee of ten dollars for a two-year period to allow the city to recover a portion of the cost of inspection, enforcement and golf cart lane plan maintenance;

• D. An education and information package describing the requirements of the city golf cart transportation program.

• (Ord. 703 § 1, 1993)

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The city council finds and determines that the city shall provide law enforcement for the golf cart transportation plan and enforce the rules and regulations of the Palm Desert Municipal Code, the Streets and Highways Code (Chapter 6, Division 2.5, Sections 1950 through 1961), and Section 21716 of the California Vehicle Code. Any person operating a golf cart in violation of this chapter is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. (Ord. 703 § 1, 1993; Ord. 895 § 5, 1998; Ord. 1334 § 11, 2018)

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