Source: https://www.ecode360.com/27113944
Timestamp: 2019-02-17 09:23:23
Document Index: 505933775

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 158', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 158', '§ 158', '§ 158']

Town of Elkton, VA Operation of Golf Carts and Utility Vehicles on Public Highways
Ch 158 Art VII Operation of Golf Carts and Utility Vehicles on Public Highways
§ 158-30 Authority to regulate.
§ 158-31 Definitions.
§ 158-32 Required safety equipment.
§ 158-33 Golf cart and utility vehicle operation.
§ 158-34 Designation of Town roads and highways for golf cart and utility vehicle operation; posting of signs.
§ 158-35 Town safety inspection.
§ 158-36 Insurance required.
§ 158-37 Operation on public highways.
§ 158-38 Limitations.
§ 158-39 Exceptions.
§ 158-40 Local vehicle license.
§ 158-41 Liability disclaimer.
Article VII Operation of Golf Carts and Utility Vehicles on Public Highways
[Added 6-20-2011; amended 8-15-2016]
Chapter 158 Vehicles and Traffic Article VII Operation of Golf Carts and Utility Vehicles on Public Highways
Pursuant to § 46.2-916.2 of the Code of Virginia (1950) as amended, the Town of Elkton is authorized, by ordinance, to impose limitations and restrictions on the operation of golf carts upon public highways within the Town of Elkton.
A self-propelled vehicle having at least four wheels which is designed to transport persons playing golf and their equipment on a golf course.
A vehicle that is powered by a motor and is designed for off-road use and is used as a farm, agricultural or horticultural service vehicle, generally having four or more wheels, bench seating for the operator and a passenger, a steering wheel for control and a cargo bed. Must be classified by the manufacturer as a utility vehicle and not an all-terrain vehicle. Does not include pickup or panel trucks, golf carts, riding lawn mowers and farm tractors.
In addition to any safety equipment required by the Code of Virginia for golf carts and utility vehicles, such shall have the following safety equipment installed:
Speed governor if gasoline-powered.
Safety lap belts.
No person shall operate a golf cart or utility vehicle on or over any road, bike path or sidewalk in the Town of Elkton except as provided in this article.
Pursuant to § 46.2-916.2 of the Code of Virginia, the Elkton Town Council may authorize, by ordinance, the operation of golf carts on designated public Town streets within the Town after: i) considering the speed, volume and character of motor vehicle traffic using such street; and ii) determining that golf cart operation on particular Town streets is compatible with state and local transportation plans and consistent with the commonwealth's statewide pedestrian policy. No Town street shall be designated for use by golf carts if such golf cart operations will impede the same and efficient flow of motor vehicle traffic, or if the street's speed limit is greater than 25 miles per hour. Any public highways with a speed limit of 25 MPH or less shall be considered designated for golf cart and utility vehicle use, unless specifically excluded pursuant to Chapter 158, Article VII, § 158-37, of the Town Code.
[Amended 9-18-2017]
All requests made to have specific streets designated for golf cart and utility vehicle use shall be directed to the Town Manager.
Golf carts and utility vehicles shall pass a safety inspection at least once yearly. Such safety inspection shall be conducted by an official inspection station as such are designated in accordance with § 46.2-1163 of the Code of Virginia (1950) as amended or by a business which is engaged in the sale of golf carts or utility vehicles. Such safety inspection shall only cover the following items:
Headlights, tail lights and turn signals, if the golf cart or utility vehicle is driven between sunset and sunrise.
Rubber or equivalent tires.
Windshield wipers if equipped with permanent windshield.
Horn, adequate steering gear, brakes, emergency or parking brake, one mirror, adequately fixed driver's seat.
All other factory-installed safety or mechanical systems, including checking for gasoline or propane leaks.
The owner of the golf cart or utility vehicle shall be responsible for obtaining a certification from the inspection station that the golf cart or utility vehicle passed the inspection.
Every golf cart, utility vehicle and driver thereof shall be covered by an insurance policy. Such policy shall meet the minimum liability amounts contained in § 46.2-472 of the Code of Virginia (1950) as amended, and provide coverage during the operation of the golf cart and utility vehicle upon public highways.
It is unlawful to operate a golf cart or utility vehicle on a public highway within the Town of Elkton unless the following requirements are met:
Golf carts and utility vehicles may not be operated on West Spotswood Trail from the intersection of 2nd Street, west, to the Town limits.
Golf carts and utility vehicles may not be operated on Spotswood Trail (Business Rt. 33).
Golf carts and utility vehicles may not be operated on Stuart Avenue with the exception of crossing at designated intersections.
Golf carts and utility vehicles shall be operated only between sunrise and sunset unless equipped with such lights as required in Article 3 of Chapter 10 of Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.
No person may operate a golf cart or utility vehicle unless that person is licensed to drive upon highways of the Commonwealth of Virginia and, then, only in accordance with such driver's license.
Golf carts and utility vehicles must be operated in accordance with all applicable state and local laws and ordinances, including all laws, regulations and ordinances pertaining to the possession and use of alcoholic beverages.
Only the number of people the golf cart or utility vehicle is designed to seat may ride on a golf cart or utility vehicle. Additionally, passengers shall not be carried on the part of a golf cart designed to carry golf bags or on the part of a utility vehicle designed to carry cargo.
Golf carts and utility vehicles must be operated to the extreme right of the roadway and must yield to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Golf carts and utility vehicles may be operated in bicycle lanes provided they do not impede bicycle traffic.
Golf carts shall not be operated during inclement weather, for example, snow, sleet, or ice-related conditions; nor when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions.
The Chief of Police, or his designee, may prohibit the operation of golf carts and utility vehicles on any highway if the Chief determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.
Golf cart and utility vehicle operations on designated Town streets shall be in accordance with the following limitations:
No person shall operate a golf cart or utility vehicle on a Town street unless that street is designated for golf cart and/or utility vehicle operations.
No golf cart or utility vehicle shall be driven across any public highway where the public highway being crossed has a posted speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour unless the public highway intersection is controlled by a traffic light and has a posted speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour. No golf cart or utility vehicle shall be driven across any street at an intersection where the street being crossed has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
No person shall operate any golf cart or utility vehicle on any designated Town street unless he has in his possession a valid driver's license.
No golf cart or utility vehicle shall be operated on any designated Town street without displaying a slow-moving vehicle emblem in conformity with Virginia Code § 46.2-1081.
No person shall operate any golf cart or utility vehicle on any designated Town street between sunset and sunrise, unless equipped with the proper lights.
The limitations set forth in § 158-38 above shall not apply to golf carts or utility vehicles being operated to the extent necessary for Town of Elkton employees and Town of Elkton contractors to fulfill a governmental purpose, or as otherwise authorized by the Town Manager or his designee, provided the golf cart or utility vehicle is not operated on a Town street with a posted speed limit over 35 miles per hour.
No golf cart or utility vehicle shall be used on the public highways unless it has obtained a Town of Elkton vehicle license. No vehicle license shall be issued until the owner of the golf cart or utility vehicle presents evidence that the golf cart or utility vehicle is insured in accordance with the requirements of § 158-36 and the golf cart or utility vehicle has been received and passed a safety inspection required by § 158-35.
This article is adopted to address the interest of public safety. Golf carts and utility vehicles are not designed or manufactured to be used on the public streets, and the Town of Elkton in no way advocates or endorses their operation on public streets or roads. The Town of Elkton, by regulating such operation, is merely trying to address obvious safety issues, and adoption of this article is not to be relied upon as a determination that operation on public streets is safe or advisable if done in accordance with this article. All persons who operate or ride upon golf carts or utility vehicles on public streets or roads do so at their own risk and peril, and must be observant of, and attentive to, the safety of themselves and others, including their passengers, other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The Town of Elkton has no liability under any theory of liability and the Town assumes no liability for permitting golf carts or utility vehicles to be operated on the public streets and roads under the special legislation granted by the Virginia General Assembly. Any person who operates a golf cart or utility vehicle is responsible for procuring liability insurance sufficient to cover the risk involved in using a golf cart or utility vehicle on the public streets and roads.