Golf cart owners in Georgia will soon have stricter requirements to follow if they plan to drive their carts on roadways.
A new law taking effect Jan. 1 creates a separate classification of personal transportation vehicles for golf carts. It also sets standards for towns and counties wanting to create ordinances allowing drivers to use the carts on residential streets and multi-purpose pathways. The law requires that golf carts have braking systems, a reverse warning device, tail lamps, a horn and hip restraints.
The carts must weigh less than 1,375 pounds and not top speeds of 20 mph. The carts must also be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The bill was signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal this year after his predecessor, Gov. Sonny Perdue, vetoed a similar measure last year. It had backing from one of Georgia’s key industries — golf cart manufacturing.
The Georgia-based International Light Transportation Vehicle Association, formerly known as the National Golf Cars Manufacturers Association — which prefers the term “car” to “cart” — estimates that 90 percent of the golf carts used in the U.S. are made in Georgia.
“Safety is what we’re concerned about,” said Fred L. Somers Jr., secretary of the association. “Unless you
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