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July 16. By Dave Yochum. It’s definitely a first-world problem: All those golf carts, motorized scooters and bikes are causing havoc with Cornelius pedestrians and joggers. The Cornelius Police Dept. is seeing a rise in complaints of people illegally operating golf carts on public streets, and the Town Board as well as the mayor are starting to talk about it.

“We will be studying this issue to see what may be adopted and what steps may be taken to make our town safer while considering the potential use of these modes of transportation,” said Mayor Woody Washam.

For a moment put thoughts of commuter rail to Charlotte aside.

To legally operate a golf cart or “low speed” vehicle on a public street in North Carolina, the vehicle must be registered with the NC Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) or there must be a local ordinance adopted regulating the use of golf carts on public streets in the area the vehicle is being operated.

Danger on the streets

The Town of Cornelius has not adopted an ordinance regulating the use of golf carts on public streets. Commissioner Todd Sansbury pointed out that you can have all the laws that you want, but enforcement is another story, noting that there’s something approaching chaos at certain intersections late in the afternoon. Inserting golf carts and scooters in the mix is dangerous.

“Traffic is more and more out of control,” Sansbury said. “Jetton Road, Bethel Church are basically drag strips.”

Sansbury

But golf carts and other motorized, alternative means of transportation aren’t just fun, they’re low-cost, convenient ways to move around neighborhoods, if not the whole town.

Some of the rules and regulations make one wonder if the golf cart you’re passing is street legal:

Golf carts are not allowed on public streets unless they are registered with the the NCDMV.

Details

The cart must have head lamps, stop lamps, turn signals, tail lamps, reflectors, a parking brake, rear view mirrors, windshield, wipers, speedometer, seat belts and a Vehicle Identification Number.

It must be inspected and registered; they may then only operate on roads/streets where the speed limit is 35 mph or less.

To register a golf cart with the state it must be professionally altered so it is more like an electric car than a golf cart.

It doesn’t end there.

Once the golf cart has been modified with all of the required equipment it will have to be inspected by a NCDMV Inspector. The inspector will complete a report confirming the vehicle is equipped for road use and meets the Federal DOT safety standards for a “low speed” vehicle. The owner may then go to a local NCDMV office, submit the inspection report, submit proof of liability insurance and apply for a title and registration plate.

There’s more.

A properly registered golf cart is allowed to cross a road with a posted speed higher than 35 mph.

The operator must be at least 16 years of age and have a valid driver’s license—so no 14-year-olds at the wheel.

The operator must comply with all traffic rules, including wearing seat belts.

If you don’t comply: Any person found illegally operating a golf cart on the streets of Cornelius risks having the vehicle impounded and being charged for failing to register a vehicle, failing to carry liability insurance, expired/no inspection and improper equipment, Police Chief David Baucom said.

Chief Baucom

In cases where the driver is not the owner, both the driver and owner may be charged.

Sidewalk highway

Naturally, some golf carts are migrating to sidewalks where there is competition for space, said Mayor Pro Tem Scott Higgins. Indeed, there are early discussions about widening some sidewalks to accommodate different modes of transportation, not just pedestrians.

Motorized bicycles and similar modes of transportation are not illegal on town sidewalks.

With traffic so chaotic and cyclists in the mix, Sansbury would like to see the use of flashing speed limit signs—it would help the Police because they’re down more than a half-dozen officers.

He’s calling for an education campaign to help encourage people to slow down, as well as parking unmanned patrol cars in the median to encourage compliance with speed limits.

“I’d like to see renewed efforts in communication and a campaign before we engage in enforcement,” he said.