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St. Mary’s County approves repeal-and-replace of golf-cart ordinance after public hearing and safety discussion
Summary
The county commissioners voted to repeal and replace Ordinance 2017-30 to update the list of county roads where golf carts may be driven; the proposal and debate focused on safety standards, equipment requirements and whether Old Horse Landing Road should be added.
St. Mary’s County commissioners voted May 13 to repeal and replace Ordinance 2017-30 to update which county roads may legally allow golf cart operation, after a public hearing and staff briefings on safety and equipment requirements.
County Attorney Giddens told commissioners the proposed ordinance would reenact the roads covered by the prior ordinance and add Old Horse Landing Road to the list. Giddens also summarized applicable state guidance, citing COMAR 11.13.13.02, and described equipment and operational requirements that the county ordinance incorporates: golf carts must be driven only between dawn and dusk, be equipped with lighting and reflectors per the Code of Maryland Regulations, display at least one red tail lamp and one white projecting headlight, carry amber or yellow reflectors front and side, and be driven as far to the right as feasible. Giddens noted a golf cart is defined as a vehicle seating more than one occupant, with a windshield and steering wheel, a maximum speed of 20 mph and not classified as a low-speed vehicle or off-highway recreational vehicle.
The public hearing on April 29 drew 13 speakers, Giddens said, all of whom supported the change. Commissioners raised safety questions specific to Old Horse Landing Road: Department of Public Works and Transportation traffic data showed one vehicle traveling 69 mph on a posted 30-mph limit, and a county official noted the DPW director felt that speed made the road unsafe for golf carts. Commissioners also discussed liability, noting that accident compensation typically would proceed through the at-fault driver or that driver’s insurance; examples raised included collisions between a golf cart and a motor vehicle and between two golf carts.
Commissioners clarified that the ordinance applies only to county-owned highways and that the town of Leonardtown (a municipal jurisdiction) could designate its own municipal highways under state law (citing the statutory provision discussed in the packet). They also confirmed the board must amend the county ordinance each time a road is added or removed.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to repeal and replace Ordinance 2017-30 with the proposed text and authorize the commission president to sign related documents; the motion carried by voice vote. The transcript record shows no roll-call tally. The action directs staff to finalize findings and the final ordinance language consistent with the decision.
The vote updates the county’s local rules for where golf carts can operate, while leaving open the practical question of whether Old Horse Landing Road will be included in final language: the DPW traffic study and the director’s safety concerns were explicitly raised during the discussion.
