ST. GEORGE — Driving a golf cart down certain streets is now legal following a unanimous vote by the City Council last week.
A request for an ordinance addressing golf cart use on city streets was brought before the council in September and was eventually crafted in the code adopted during last Thursday’s St. George City Council meeting.
“The way state law works right now is golf carts are prohibited, period, on any of our streets,” St. George Police Chief Kyle Whitehead told the City Council prior to voting on the ordinance. “The benefit of this ordinance will allow us and our residents to operate their golf carts on city streets with certain conditions.”
Changes made to state law in 2020 allow municipalities to create their own ordinances governing golf cart use if they choose to do so. Prior to the new ordinance being adopted, golf carts were only allowed in private communities like SunRiver and Desert Color.
It was police officers who brought the request for an ordinance to the council due to concerns related to incidents involving children recklessly driving golf carts, particularly in the Little Valley area.
“Our police officers, for several years now, have expressed concern,” Whitehead said.
St. George Police Sgt. Jeremy Needles previously told St. George News that there have been incidents of children on golf carts blowing through stop signs and packing the vehicles with too many passengers, and many of those kids tend to be under 12 years old.
Worries over situations like these increase in the spring and summer months when the weather warms up and kids are out of school, Whitehead said.
Under the new ordinance:
- Golf carts are allowed on certain city streets with a speed limit of 25 mph, as well as some 30 mph roads connecting these streets (this includes streets in Bloomington, Little Valley, Desert Canyon and elsewhere). However, golf carts will not be allowed on heavily trafficked downtown roads like St. George Boulevard and Main Street.
- A person must be 16 years old to operate a golf cart and it is illegal for a parent or guardian to allow anyone younger to do so.
- Golf carts can only carry the number of people they have seats for with one person allowed per seat. Additional occupants are not allowed to pile onto a golf cart.
- Golf carts cannot be operated at night unless they are equipped with headlights, taillights and reflectors.
Additional details of how and where the golf carts can be used within the city can be found on the sidebar.
“We support this ordinance,” Whitehead said. “We feel like it’s a good step in the right direction.”
Individuals who violate the ordinance can be subject to an infraction and associated fines for the first offense. A second offense committed within 24 months of the first one can result in a class B misdemeanor. The misdemeanor can result in a fine of up to $750 or compensatory service. Jail time may also be included depending on the severity of the incident.
In cases where children are involved, the responsibility for any citations and fines will fall on the parents.
“We find oftentimes that that seems to be a little bit more effective in getting the behavior to stop,” Whitehead said about citing the parents.
While police can issue citations, there is also no limit to how many times they can give someone a warning about violating the ordinance, Whitehead added.
Councilwoman Natalie Larsen said there have been many complaints from residents about children recklessly riding golf carts and electric scooters down residential streets, yet those incidents are not being reported. If people see this type of behavior, they need to report it so it can be dealt with, she said, adding that failing to say or do anything is implied permission for the behavior to continue.
“Silence grants approval,” Larsen said.
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