The following City Ordinance, Chapter 20, Article VI., referenced below, addresses the use of golf carts on certain designated streets in the Southwood Planned Unit Development. The biggest issues are the requirements that the driver has to have a driver’s license and the golf cart has to be equipped with “efficient brakes, reliable steering apparatus, safe tires, a rear view mirror, windshield, head lights, brake lights, tail lights, turn signals, seat belts for every passenger seat, and red reflectorized warning devices on the front and rear, and a horn.” As you know, many golf carts do not have this required equipment and therefore would not be permitted to operate on the roadways. Sec. 20-174. - Intent. It is the intent of this article to allow the operation of golf carts on certain designated streets in the Southwood Planned Unit Development under certain conditions as set forth in this article. (Ord. No. 07-O-29AA, § 1, 6-27-2007) Sec. 20-175. - Definitions. Designated streets means all streets and alleys within the Southwood Planned Unit Development, except for those streets and trails, including sidewalks, specifically excluded for golf cart use by this article. Golf cart means a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for sporting or recreational purposes that is not ca- pable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour as defined by F.S. § 320.01(22). (Ord. No. 07-O-29AA, § 1, 6-27-2007; Ord. No. 09-O-28, § 1, 6-24-2009) Sec. 20-176. - Authorization. After consideration of factors, including speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using designated streets; the city has determined that golf carts may safely travel on or across certain designated streets. There- fore, golf carts meeting the definition set forth in section 20-175 and equipped with efficient brakes, reliable steer- ing apparatus, safe tires, a rear view mirror, windshield, functioning head lights, tail lights, turn signals, seat belts, and red reflectorized warning devices on the front and rear may be operated on all designated streets within the Southwood Planned Unit Development, except that golf carts are specifically excluded from traveling on the fol- lowing streets and trails: (1) Capital Circle Southeast. (2) Shumard Oak Boulevard from Capital Circle Southeast to Four Oaks Boulevard. (3) Four Oaks Boulevard south of Baringer Hill Drive. (4) Four Oaks Boulevard from Orange Avenue to Shady View Lane. (5) Merchants Row Boulevard from Capital Circle Southeast to Esplanade Way. (6) Blair Stone Road. (7) Orange Avenue extension. (8) Tram Road. (9) Sidewalks on all streets. (10)Nature trails. (Ord. No. 07-O-29AA, § 1, 6-27-2007) Sec. 20-177. - Prohibitions. (a) Golf carts that have been modified to exceed the speed of 20 miles per hour shall not be considered golf carts under the provisions of this article, and are not afforded the rights provided herein. (b) A golf cart may not be operated on a road or street that is not designated for such use by this article or is a part of the State of Florida Highway or U.S. Highway System unless specifically authorized by the city and depart- ment of transportation as provided in F.S. § 316.212(2). (c) Children under the age of five years are prohibited from being transported in golf carts. (Ord. No. 07-O-29AA, § 1, 6-27-2007; Ord. No. 09-O-28, § 2, 6-24-2009) Sec. 20-178. - Requirements for operation of golf carts. Golf cart operators shall comply with all applicable local and state traffic laws and may be ticketed for traffic viola- tions in the same manner as a motor vehicle under state laws. (1) Operating requirements. a. Hours of operation. A golf cart may only be operated on the designated streets during the hours between sun- rise and midnight. b. Driver's license required. Golf carts shall not be operated on the designated streets by anyone not in posses- sion of a valid driver's license. c. Required equipment. Any golf cart operating under this article shall be equipped with efficient brakes, reliable steering apparatus, safe tires, a rear view mirror, windshield, head lights, brake lights, tail lights, turn signals, seat belts for every passenger seat, and red reflectorized warning devices on the front and rear, and a horn. (2) Other requirements. a. Number and age of passengers. Any golf cart operating under this article shall be occupied by no more pas- sengers than for whom there are seatbelts in the golf cart. Only children over the age of five years who do not require the use of crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device specified in F.S. § 316.613(1)(a), qualify to be transported as passengers in a golf cart. b. Reserved. c. Hold harmless. Any person operating a golf cart on any designated street does so at his/her own risk and must operate such vehicle with due regard for the safety and convenience of other motor vehicles, bicyclists and pe- destrians. The city in designating certain city streets for the operation of golf carts extends such operating privi- leges on the express condition that the operators of any golf carts under this article undertakes such operation at their own risk and assume sole liability for operating the vehicle on the designated streets and by such operation Golf Cart Use in SouthWood Sec. 20-178. - Requirements for operation of golf carts (continued). agree to defend, release, indemnify and hold harmless the city, its officials and employees for and regarding any and all claims, demands, or damages of any nature whatsoever arising from such operation by any person. d. Liability insurance required. Any operator of a golf cart on the designated streets shall be covered by motor vehicle or other liability insurance that includes operation of the golf cart insuring the owner and/or operator against loss from liability for bodily injury, death, and property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle is not less than the limits described in F.S. § 324.021(7). (Ord. No. 07-O-29AA, § 1, 6-27-2007; Ord. No. 09-O-28, § 3, 6-24-2009) Sec. 20-179. - Signage. The city shall post appropriate signage on the designated streets as an indication that operation of golf carts is allowed. (Ord. No. 07-O-29AA, § 1, 6-27-2007) Sec. 20-180. - Penalties. (a) Moving violations. Any violation of the requirements in subsection 20-178(1) shall be cited as a non-criminal traffic infraction punishable pursuant to F.S. § 316.22, and F.S. ch. 318 as a moving violation. (b) Other violations. Any other violation of this article is a non-criminal traffic infraction punishable by uniform traf- fic citation as follows: (1) 1st violation: $100.00; (2) 2nd violation of article if violation occurs within two years of first violation: $200.00; (3) 3rd violation of article if violation occurs within four years of second violation: $300.00. (c) In addition to the foregoing, violations of traffic infractions shall also be punishable by any other method as provided by law. The city's municipal code enforcement board shall have authority to enforce the provisions of this article. (Ord. No. 07-O-29AA, § 1, 6-27-2007) Dennis M. Jones Chief of Police City of Tallahassee “A Tradition of Service Since 1841” Golf Cart Use in SouthWood