Fayetteville Planning and Zoning Commission started on a path Jan. 10 designed to consider implementing a golf cart ordinance, the county seat’s first.

Board members said it was only a beginning and assigned no timetable to the consideration. Those considerations ended May 23 with a unanimous vote to recommend the ordinance to the city council.

Using similar ordinances from Peachtree City and Tyrone, the general proposal examined issues such as registration and inspection, permits, fees, operating regulations, authorized users, hazardous activities and special rules, liabilities and penalties.

The proposed ordinance defines a golf cart, or motorized, cart, as one that is either electric or gasoline powered and does not exceed 20 miles per hour.

The ordinance also authorizes “low speed motor vehicles,” those defined as four-wheeled vehicles whose top speed exceeds 20 miles per hour but does not exceed 25 miles per hour and which possess some mechanical, electrical or similar system other than merely decreased pressure on the accelerator wherein the vehicle’s top speed can be prohibited from exceeding 20 miles per hour by the operator.

The ordinance calls for carts to be registered prior to being driven on recreation paths or streets. A permit will also be required.

The permit application, including a current driver’s license number will be accompanied by a $15 fee for city residents and a $75 fee for non-residents.

The ordinance also made provision for drivers under 16 years of age. Fifteen-year-olds without a learner’s permit in their possession can operate a cart if an 18-year-old is present in the front seat. Those 15-year-olds with a learner’s permit can be accompanied by someone at least 15 years of age or by up to three immediate family members.

Persons age 12 or older can drive a cart on recreation paths or designated streets if accompanied in the front seat by a parent, grandparent or legal guardian. No one under age 12 can operate a cart.

Once registered, a decal must be affixed to the cart, with a second decal kept on file with police. The permit will be be revoked if it is found that the permit holder no longer has a valid drivers license, fails to abide by established rules and regulation, fails to abide by traffic laws, fails to grant right-of-way to pedestrians and bicyclists or poses a threat to others or cannot safely operate the cart on a designated path.

The ordinance prohibits golf carts from traveling on major streets and collector streets, except where authorized crossings are approved. Major streets were defined as those designed and used for high traffic volumes and crosstown traffic movement. Major streets include Ga. Highway 85, Ga. Highway 54, Ga. Highway 92, Ga. Highway 314, North Jeff Davis Drive and Jimmie Mayfield Boulevard.

Collector streets were defined as those designed for moderate traffic volumes, generally having right-of-way over intersecting minor streets. Identified collector streets included New Hope Road, White Road, Banks Road, Beauregard Boulevard, Redwine Road, Grady Avenue, Hood Avenue, Old Norton Road, Lafayette Avenue, Brandywine Boulevard, Ginger Cake Road, South Jeff Davis Road, Ramah Road, Price Road, Lester Road and Sandy Creek Road.

Golf carts can operate on sidewalks provided the sidewalk is at least eight feet wide and provided the driver yields the right-of-way. Nighttime operation would require functional headlights and taillights.

The proposal for gasoline powered golf carts requires that they be equipped with an exhaust system in good working order in which the emission system has not been altered.

Ordinance violations would result in a first offense fine of $50, a second offense fine of $100 and a $250 fine if a third offense is committed within one year of conviction of a second offense. The third offense also the revocation of the registration. The owner or family member would be prohibited from registering the cart for a period of two years following a third conviction.

Next stop for the golf cart ordinance is the city council.

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