Rancho Mirage Municipal Code Ch. 10.70 Golf Cart Transportation Plan

Chapter 6 of the California Streets and Highways Code authorizes the city to establish and adopt a golf cart transportation plan. It is the intent of the city to establish a golf cart transportation program, in conformance with Chapter 6, that will provide a safe and convenient means of golf cart access to golf courses and neighboring uses within the city. Further, it is the intent of this chapter to establish program definitions, golf cart transportation plan routes and crossings, golf cart equipment standards and requirements, golf cart operator requirements and safety criteria, permit procedures, and enforcement standards.

(Ord. 713 § 3, 1999)

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

"City"

means the city of Rancho Mirage.

"Golf cart"

means a four-wheeled motor vehicle with an unladen weight of less than one thousand three hundred pounds, which is designed to be and is operated at not more than twenty miles per hour and is designed to carry golf equipment and not more than two persons, including the driver, and can be utilized on local golf courses for the purpose of playing golf.

"Golf cart facility"

means all travel ways, as designated by the city, that provide for golf cart travel. There shall be three categories of golf cart facility:

Class I golf cart paths provide an area separate from the roadway used by automobile traffic for shared one-way or two-way use by golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians.

Class II golf cart lanes provide a striped eight-foot lane for one-way golf cart and bicycle travel on a street or highway.

Class III golf cart routes provide for shared use with automobile and bicycle traffic. Class III facilities are established by placing golf cart route signs along roadways with speed limits of twenty-five miles per hour or less in order to link them to Class I or Class II facilities.

"Golf cart circulation plan"

means the adopted map depicting routes and crossing that will be constructed, posted and designated for use by permitted golf carts.

(Ord. 713 § 3, 1999)

All golf carts traveling on any golf cart facility in the city must meet the following minimum design criteria:

1. The golf cart must be electrically powered.

2. The golf cart must be equipped and safely operated with all of the following equipment:

a. Red reflectors;

b. Headlights, brake lights, and rear lights;

c. Front and rear turn signal indicator lights;

d. Windshield;

e. Seat belts;

f. Mirror combination (left and right side mirrors, left and rear mirrors, or multi-directional cross bar mirror) and unobstructed view to the rear.

3. The golf cart may also be equipped with the following equipment, at the owner's discretion:

a. Parking brake;

b. Covered passenger compartment;

c. Backup buzzer;

d. Horn;

e. Golf cart locking device.

(Ord. 713 § 3, 1999; Ord. 729 § 1, 2000)

All golf cart operators operating golf carts on any golf cart facility in the city must conform to the following operator requirements and safety criteria:

1. Golf cart operators must be licensed drivers in the State of California with valid California driver's license, or a driver's license issued by another state.

2. Golf cart operators must comply with the financial responsibility requirements established pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 16000) of Division 7 of the California Vehicle Code.

3. Golf cart operators must maintain golf cart in a safe condition.

4. Golf carts are limited to daytime operation and are not permitted before one-half hour prior to sunrise or after one-half hour after sunset.

5. Golf cart operators must yield the right-of-way to automobiles, pedestrians and bicyclists.

6. Golf cart operators may only travel on designated golf cart facilities, and only in those golf carts that meet the minimum design criteria required by Section 10.70.030 and that are also properly permitted by the city.

(Ord. 713 § 3, 1999)

The following golf cart permitting process is established:

1. No golf cart shall be operated within the city without a current golf cart permit decal visibly displayed on the right rear fender of the golf cart.

2. The golf cart permit shall be designed to be valid for a period of two calendar years.

3. A golf cart permit fee shall be established by city council resolution.

(Ord. 713 § 3, 1999; Ord. 729 § 2, 2000)

Any person operating a golf cart in the city in violation of this chapter is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

(Ord. 713 § 3, 1999)