Community

Village Of Lawrence 157 N. Paw Paw P.O. Box 217 Lawrence Michigan 49064 (269) 674-8161 Fax (269) 674-3004 www.lawrencemi.org

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MEETINGS NOTICE

Village of Lawrence Committee Meetings Posting

(Unless indicated otherwise, all meetings are held at the Village Hall)

In observance of Memorial Day the office will be closed May 29.

Draft Copy

VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE

GOLF CART ORDINANCE

The Village of Lawrence ordains:

SECTION 1: PURPOSE.

An ordinance adopted to regulate the use and operation of golf carts in the Village of Lawrence.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS

1. A. “Village” means the Village of Lawrence, County of Van Buren, State of Michigan

1. B. “Driver’s License” means an operator’s or chauffeur’s license issued to an individual by the Secretary of State under Chapter III of the Michigan Vehicle Code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.301 to MCL 257.329,as amended, for that individual to operate a vehicle, whether or not conditions are attached to the license or permit.

1. C. “Golf Cart” means a vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes. All golf carts operated within the city shall have no increased power, wheelbase or tire modifications for a standard manufactured gas or electric gold cart without prior approval from the city.

1. D. “Maintained Portion” for this ordinance means that portion of a road improved, designated or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, that also includes the gravel shoulder/paved shoulder.

1. E. “Operate” means to ride in or on, or be in actual physical control of the operation of the golf cart.

1. F. “Operator” means a person who operates or is in actual physical control of the operation of a golf cart.

1. G. “Registration” means the process through which every person intending to operate a motorized golf cart on roads or streets within the Village must follow.

1. H. “Registration Sticker” A person operating a motorized golf cart by permit in the Village shall have a current registration sticker displayed on the driver’s rear fender of the cart. Registration stickers are obtained by completing and submitting the proper registration form to the city, along with a $10.00 fee. A registration sticker will be valid for a period of three (3) years and must be renewed.

1. I. “Street” means a road, roadway, street or right-of-way” within the corporate boundaries of the Village of Lawrence, County of Van Buren State of Michigan, excluding State or Federal Highways. The terms road, roadway, street and right-of-way are interchangeable.

SECTION 3. OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS ON CITY STREETS/ROADWAYS

A person may operate a golf cart on city streets, subject to the following restrictions:

1. A. A person shall not operate a golf cart on any street unless he or she is at least sixteen (16) years old and is licensed to operate a motor vehicle.

1. B. The operator of a golf cart shall comply with the signal requirements of MCL 257.648, as amended, that apply to the operation of a vehicle.

1. C. All golf carts are required to have a red reflector on the rear of the golf cart that shall be visible from all distances up to five hundred (500’) feet when in front of lawful low beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.

1. D. The operator of a golf cart shall obey by all sections pertaining to traffic in the Michigan Vehicle Code and the Uniform Traffic Code.

1. E. A person operating a golf cart may operate on the far right maintained portion of a street, roadway or public right-of-way and shall ride as near to the far right side of the maintained portion as practicable.

1. F. No motorized golf carts shall be operated in the Village at any time on state or federal highways except to cross highways where crosswalks have been designated or by using the most direct line of crossing.

1. G. A golf cart shall not be operated on a public sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians.

1. H. The maximum speed at which a golf cart may be operated is 15 mph or less.

1. I. Golf carts may only be operated on designated roadways and shall not be operated on Village streets during the time period from one half hour before sunset to one half hour after sunrise.

1. J. A person who is a passenger in a golf cart, six (6) years of age or under, is required to wear a crash or bicycle helmet.

1. K. A golf cart shall not be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

1. L. A golf cart shall not be operated in inclement weather or when visibility is impaired by weather or when roads are snow and/or ice covered.

1. M. Golf carts shall not be operated on a road or street in a negligent manner so as to endanger any person or property, or to obstruct, hinder, or impede the lawful course of travel of any motor vehicle or the lawful use by any pedestrian of public streets, sidewalks, paths, trails, walkways, or parks.

1. N. Off-road vehicles, such as Gators, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), a multitrack or multi-wheel drive vehicle, dune buggy, or like-vehicles are not considered golf carts.

SECTION 4. REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION STICKERS

1. A. Golf cart owners operating within the city shall register each golf cart on a triennial basis by making application to the office of the Village clerk. A list of registered carts shall be maintained by the Village clerk.

1. B. The charge to obtain a registration sticker will be $10.00. The golf cart owner shall affix the registration sticker issued by the Village to the driver’s rear fender of the golf cart. The registration sticker will be valid for a period of three (3) years.

1. C. Failure to register a golf cart or renew an existing registration shall constitute as a violation of this ordinance.

SECTION 5. PENALTY, CIVIL INFRACTIONS

1. A. Any person violating any provisions of this ordinance shall be responsible for a civil infraction. The penalty for the first offense shall be Fifty ($50.00) Dollars, and One Hundred ($100.00.) Dollars for the first repeat offense. Repeat offense shall be defined as a violation of said ordinance which has been ticketed for within the past 30 days. For any second or subsequent repeat offense, the fine shall be no more than Two Hundred Fifty ($250.00) Dollars. It shall be the duty of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department to enforce the provisions of this ordinance. If, after investigation, an officer determines that a violation of the ordinance exists, the officer shall be authorized to issue a municipal civil infraction citation to any person, firm, or corporation that is responsible for violating the provisions of this ordinance. Service of said civil infraction citation or civil infraction notice shall be made in accordance with MCL 600.8707, Public Act 12 of 1994.

1. B. A court may order a person who causes damage to the environment, a road, or other property as a result of the operation of a golf cart to pay full restitution for that damage above and beyond the penalties paid for civil infractions.

SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY

If any section, sub-section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance shall

be declared invalid for any reason whatsoever, such decision shall not affect the

remaining portion of this ordinance which shall remain in force and effect, and to this end

the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable.

SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE

This ordinance shall become effective on the date of its publication.

Adopted:

Effective:

Motion by Council Member , seconded by Council Member , to adopt the ordinance.

Ayes: Council Member, , , ,

Nays: None

Absent: Council Member ,