East Dundee trustees direct staff to draft golf-cart ordinance, seek registration and 18-year minimum

East Dundee trustees on May 19 directed village staff to draft an ordinance to allow limited operation of non‑highway vehicles — including golf carts and other street‑legal utility vehicles — on village streets, and to return a proposed ordinance for Board consideration on June 16.

Village staff told trustees the idea originated with Village President Pearson and that staff consulted the village attorney and reviewed a state statute that permits municipalities to regulate non‑highway vehicles within their boundaries. Staff said the draft ordinance will identify allowed street crossings, propose a registration system so vehicles can be identified by village staff, and include recommended regulatory elements such as an age limit, lighting, and equipment requirements.

The apparent aim, staff said, is to permit golf‑cart travel within East Dundee while limiting use on state highways; staff noted carts would not be allowed to travel on highways but could cross them at designated crossing points. Trustees raised safety and enforcement questions, including which local roads should be included (suggestions ranged from limiting use to roads with posted speeds of 30 mph or less to keeping it to 25 mph residential streets), how to handle crossings that lack traffic signals, and whether additional markings or slow‑moving vehicle emblems should be required.

Trustees debated the minimum driver age. Some board members favored 18 to align with concerns about graduated driver’s licenses and passenger limits; others noted many 16‑year‑olds are licensed and suggested syncing golf‑cart passenger rules with the state’s graduated driver‑licensing rules. Trustees and staff also discussed whether the village should require proof of liability insurance or vehicle inspections. Staff reported that some model fee and inspection amounts were discussed during research materials (the packet referenced an initial inspection fee of $100 and an annual inspection fee of $50), but the Board did not adopt any fixed fees and the final fee schedule was not specified.

Staff said a registration mechanism (for example a sticker or numeric tag) will be included in the draft even if the village makes registration free or nominal; trustees indicated they preferred a registration that covers administrative costs but did not set a final number. Staff proposed returning the ordinance June 16 and, if approved, a one‑to‑two week community education period before the program would start; trustees discussed a July 1 start date as a possible target but did not adopt a final effective date. Staff also signaled they will research equipment requirements (headlights, taillights, turn signals) and whether the village should limit operation to electric vehicles to address noise concerns.

Board members flagged enforcement and scope issues: the state statute was described as broad enough that street‑legal UTVs, ATVs or electric motorcycles might be included if they meet vehicle requirements (headlights, mirrors, turn signals), and trustees asked staff to make the draft clear about what types of vehicles are allowed. Trustees and staff emphasized the village’s limited enforcement resources and noted that registration and a visible sticker would help identification if an incident occurs.

Next steps: staff will prepare a draft ordinance that includes a registration mechanism and proposed age, equipment and crossing rules; the draft will return to the Board for review on June 16. The Board discussed community outreach and a short education window before any effective date; neither fees nor inspection requirements were finalized at the meeting.