Council discussion previews public hearing on golf-cart registration ordinance; safety, identification and night-driving limits raised

A municipal meeting included a discussion of a proposed ordinance to register golf carts so the city can identify owners and manage carts during events, especially on game days.

Gavin Colbert described the draft ordinance as a registration measure that does not change existing driving restrictions. “We’re just trying to find out whose golf cart it is,” he said, adding that the proposal would not permit night driving where state law currently prohibits it.

Colbert told the group that the city had presented an earlier version to council and that a public hearing is scheduled for April 7 at 5:30 p.m. He said organizers expect pushback from residents who use carts on game days and that some confusion exists about what the ordinance would impose.

He explained the practical enforcement reason for a sticker or registration: on game day, multiple carts are parked in sidewalks and the city needs a quick way to identify resident-owned carts for towing or contact. Colbert referenced other municipalities and barrier-island ordinances as models for distinguishing permitted cart use.

Speakers raised safety concerns about night driving and high-traffic roads; Colbert said the state law currently limits night operation and that municipalities can make limited exceptions for restricted communities, but he expects state-level action would carry “pretty heavy stipulations.” He pointed to an example of a fatal crash and said safety is a core part of the conversation.

City officials encouraged residents to attend the April 7 public hearing to comment on the draft ordinance; no vote or final action was taken at the meeting.