Golf Cart fees and registration for street use topic of the day
By Lindy J. Gwinn, Mountain Valley News staff
Golf Pro Larry Murphy and Police Chief Bob Yant are holding an open house meeting at the Deer Creek Golf Course Clubhouse on June 5 to help residents who want to license their golf carts for street use.
According to recently a recently passed ordinance that allows golf carts on the streets of Cedaredge, all golf carts used on public streets have to be registered and a $25 annual fee paid. The police department will be issuing the licenses and applying the stickers that designate legal carts.
Murphy and Yant will be available at the meeting in an effort to help residents better understand the procedure, including what streets are off limits under the ordinance, and what kinds of equipment and criteria have to be followed in order to legally drive on town streets.
“It is going to be important for people to understand what they can and can't do with these vehicles, and how and where they need to register them,” said Town Administer Katie Sickles.
Licensed golf carts will be allowed on all public streets, with the exception of Highway 65. Golf carts are not allowed on the state highway, cannot cross the state highway or run along side of the state highway.
The golf carts also have to be insured and display the town's sticker on the vehicle. They must have a triangular slow moving vehicle reflector sign mounted to the vehicle and be equipped with two headlights and two brake lights. A valid drivers license is also required.
It is also recommended that the vehicle also have rear view mirrors, turn signals, front windshield, reflectors, seat belts and a parking brake.
Golf carts will not be allowed on the streets of Cedaredge before sunrise or after dark, and all drivers must follow the rules of the road.
The ordinance evolved after more than four years of discussion. The original proposal was offered in April 2006. At that time, the Town of Cedaredge was governed by state statute. Based on the statutory status, former Police Chief, Tom Early, and Town Attorney, Gregg Stanway advised the council that golf carts were illegal on town streets.
In April 2006, Stanway addressed a large group of residents, mostly golfers, saying, “Bottom line is this: golf carts can not be legally operated on the streets.” He told the group that the only thing he could see (in the statute) is that it is legal to cross a street or highway in a designated crosswalk, but they cannot be driven on the street. “The statute specifically excludes golf carts. We have looked at this and we can’t work this out. ”
When the town adopted the Home Rule Charter in November 2008, the feasibility of having golf carts legal on town streets changed. Trustees began working on an appropriate ordinance addressing alternative vehicle use on town streets.
Former Trustee Bruce Bertram wanted the ordinance to read that other types of non-traditional vehicles could be driven by residents under the same ordinance. After some strong words, and difficult conversations, the ordinance ended up applying only to golf carts.
The current ordinance was adopted at the April 2010 regular meeting of the Cedaredge Board of Trustees.
