Out-of-city golf cart owners wanting to use Peachtree City’s paths will also be required to get a new golf cart decal this year, and every five years.

That was the original intent when the city adopted its golf cart ordinance changes last month, but the ordinance wasn’t clear that the out-of-city golf cart owners would have to pay the $12 fee every five years.

That’s in addition to the annual $60 fee the out-of-city cart owners are assessed for the privilege of using the city’s golf cart path system. The reasoning behind that charge is that out-of-city golf cart owners don’t contribute to cart path maintenance through property taxes like all residents who live inside the city.

Another change adopted by the City Council last week involves those purchasing a used golf cart. The person responsible for the fees is now the purchaser of the cart; the previous ordinance put that responsibility on the person selling the cart.

The city is also changing the way it sends out the golf cart decal notices. Originally, the city was going to use its current database to send out the notices, grouping several thousand carts at one time.

Now officials plan to issue the notices to each residence in the city, breaking the town up into several geographic areas. That way, the process will still be staggered so it won’t overwhelm city staff, explained Jane Miller, the city’s Director of Administrative Services.

The billing process will begin in March.

The impetus behind the new decals is so the city can keep more current information on who owns which golf carts in the city. The current database is so outdated that it makes crimes such as reckless driving difficult for police to investigate, officials said.

The decals will have different colors for every five-year cycle so police can easily tell if the registration is current or not.

The program will also help get a handle on exactly how many golf carts are being used in the city.

Anyone who fails to register a golf cart within 10 business days of its purchase will be assessed a $20 penalty in addition to the registration fee, according to the new ordinance.

City staff is also developing a new brochure that will be handed out to cart owners who re-register that explains the rules of the path, particularly the use of an audible or verbal signal such as a bell (or an “excuse me!”) to warn pedestrians when approaching them from behind.

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