CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Golf cart owners in the Lowcountry are adjusting to new rules of the road.
Police have been enforcing a new state law, impacting registration and operation, for the last month. While most of its regulations were pre-existing, law enforcement says one big change is taking time to settle in.
Golf carts have become a common mode of transportation in Molly Hall’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood.
“Most people take golf carts to the neighborhood pool or the boat landing or to each other’s homes,” she explained.
READ MORE | “New SC law mandates seatbelts for children under 12 on golf carts to curb safety risks.”
But Hall’s neighbors are now navigating legislation that mandates children under 12 years old wear a seat belt while riding in a golf cart.
She’s already made adjustments to her vehicle.
“I know it can be expensive to have seat belts installed on your golf cart,” Hall stated. “One tip of the trade is we got ours off Amazon and installed them ourselves. So, I think that could be a way people could save money.”
Other regulations being reinforced include proper registration and insurance through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, drivers must be at least 16 years old with a license, staying on roads 35 miles per hour or less and using the vehicles strictly during daylight.
READ MORE | “SC bill mandates fastened seatbelts on golf carts for children under 12.”
Over the past month, Mount Pleasant Police conducted 13 golf cart stops. Nine resulted in warnings and four incidents led to citations.
“All of these regulations aim to keep people safer, and safety should be our number one priority as a town. So, I am all for the changes,” Hall said.
Isle of Palms is another area seeing more golf cart traffic, raising safety concerns among police.
“These were not ever meant to be on the roads. They were never designed to be a mode of transportation, and they’ve become very popular, especially in neighborhoods and out here on the islands,” said Sgt. Matt Storen with the Isle of Palms Police Department.
READ MORE | “City officials consider golf cart access on West Ashley bike path, amid resident concerns.”
With a bigger tourist population than some neighboring areas in Charleston County, Sgt. Storen says IOP Police has focused heavily on education since Gov. Henry McMaster signed this law.
Since May, officers have written four warnings.
“We understand you’re not going to be able to get seat belts and all the other things installed overnight, so we are giving some leniency there,” Sgt. Storen said.
But with IOP’s annual Fourth of July golf cart parade less than two weeks away, police said now is the time to ensure compliance with the law or drivers will be turned away.
He expects seatbelts for children 12 and under will be the biggest violation.
“Those are things that we will not turn a blind eye to. We have to enforce those, they’re state law now, and we just can’t let you participate,” Sgt. Storen said.
Charleston Police said they’ve issued one golf cart citation in the past month for improper operation. Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island officers said they’ve had zero incidents so far.
