SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. — The city of Satellite Beach is one step closer to passing an ordinance that would allow residents to operate golf carts on certain city roadways.
Currently, only low-speed vehicles (LSV), which have to be inspected and insured, are allowed to drive on designated city streets.
What You Need To Know
Satellite Beach City Council listened to the first hearing of an ordinance that would allow golf carts to drive on certain city streets
The city’s original ordinance was put into place in 2018, and while it allowed low-speed vehicles on city roadways, it did not allow unmodified golf carts
Low-speed vehicles must have certain safety features, insurance, a VIN number, a license plate and be registered with the state in order to be driven on main roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less
Golf carts — which cannot drive faster than 20 mph — do not have the same safety, insurance and registration requirements
The commission passed the first reading of the golf cart ordinance 4-to-1. The second hearing is set to take place during a meeting in February
Officials say the ordinance is a way for the city to comply with state laws requiring titles, license plates, and registrations for low speed vehicles, but not for golf carts.
While a golf cart can be turned into a low-speed vehicle with certain speed, safety and registration modifications, unmodified golf carts are not considered LSVs.
According to the state, a LSV is defined as “any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour.” They must be registered and titled with the state, insured, and must be equipped with safety equipment — which includes headlights, front and rear turn signals, a windshield, seatbelts, and a vehicle identification number, among other things.
A golf cart, on the other hand, is defined as “a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.” State law allows golf carts — which do not have the same safety, insurance and inspection requirements as a low-speed vehicle — to operated on designated streets with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less.
Satellite Beach’s new ordinance would require golf carts to have adequate steering and braking capabilities, and be equipped with a rearview mirror and reflective warning devices on the front and back. And while LSV drivers must have a valid driver’s license, the only a photo ID would be required for golf cart drivers older than 18 (drivers younger than 18 must posses a valid license or learner’s permit).
For residents of Satellite Beach, it is normal to see golf carts that have been converted to low-speed vehicles on city streets because an ordinance passed by the city in 2018 allows them to do so.
But Wednesday, the city council was presented with a new golf cart ordinance that would add unmodified golf carts to the list of allowed vehicles on city streets.
Kyle Mallett, who co-owns of Stingers Golf Cart Sales and Service, said the ordinance, if passed, would make it easier for people in Satellite Beach to get around.
“To be able to have an opportunity to be able to use golf carts in the community, versus having to go through the process of getting a cart converted over to a low-speed vehicle,” Mallett said. “That process can be difficult for people and it could be costly, and an opportunity to be able to avoid all of that is certainly worthwhile in my opinion.”
The passage of the ordinance could allow Mallett to continue to not only serve his Satellite Beach community, but also Indian Harbour Beach, which is looking at a similar ordinance.
“The simpler it is, the more people are going to want to have golf carts, right?” Mallett said. “So, from that standpoint there’s more opportunities for me as a business owner to have more golf carts running around this community. And there will be more things that need to be fixed and the more business for me and my partners.”
And while there was community support for the new ordinance at Wednesday’s meeting, there were still some concerns about safety.
“I liked the previous one we had, because you could get across, you know, A1A and required people to have insurance and now it doesn’t require registration at all,” said Bill Leslie. “No insurance and it kind of cuts back where people can go.”
The new ordinance specifically prohibits golf carts from crossing A1A and Patrick Drive. State-registered low-speed vehicles, which are legally allowed to drive on A1A and Patrick Drive, will still be allowed to cross the two roadways.
“It’s convenient and people really love it,” Mallett said of the ordinance. “And even though we don’t have a golf course here, I definitely think we are a golf cart community.”
The city of Satellite Beach had been working with the Florida Department of Transportation in hopes of getting a variance to allow residents to legally drive their golf carts across A1A and Patrick Drive, but that request was denied.
The commission passed the first reading of their golf cart ordinance 4-to-1. The second hearing is set to take place at one of their next meetings in February.