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Council previews golf‑cart ordinance after state law; chief recommends limited night use and strict equipment rules
Summary
North Augusta Public Safety Chief Johnson asked council to adopt an ordinance aligning with South Carolina's new golf‑cart law (56‑2‑90) and recommended permitting carts on secondary streets (≤35 mph), allowing operation from sunrise until 11 p.m. with lighting and equipment requirements, and retaining state penalties; council raised enforcement and equipment concerns.
Public Safety Chief Johnson briefed the City Council Nov. 24 on a proposed local ordinance to implement and clarify South Carolina’s new golf‑cart statute and to set local operational rules.
Johnson said the state law (56‑2‑90, effective May 22, 2025) establishes minimum statewide requirements — including DMV registration and a permit decal, proof of ownership and liability insurance, a $5 DMV fee, a minimum driver age of 16 with a valid driver’s license, and a requirement that each passenger under age 12 wear a seat belt while a cart is operated on a roadway. Johnson said municipalities cannot alter those baseline rules but may set hours, permitted locations, and equipment/lighting standards.
Johnson recommended that North Augusta’s ordinance mirror state requirements while allowing operation only on secondary highways with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less, permitting crossing of higher‑speed intersections, and limiting operation to within four miles of the cart’s registration address. For night use he proposed sunrise to 11:00 p.m. for carts equipped with functioning headlights, taillights, brake lights, reflectors and a rear‑facing mirror; he also proposed language to prohibit carts from sidewalks, bike paths, greenways, unpaved trails and parks except where signage expressly permits them. The fine proposed in the draft ordinance matches the state fine of $100.
Council members voiced enforcement concerns and said many existing carts may not meet the equipment or registration requirements the state now mandates. Council asked staff to consider turn signals and to plan an education and outreach campaign (including targeted patrols and social media) before enforcement begins. Several members said they favor the 11 p.m. cutoff as a reasonable balance for ballpark and event traffic, while others suggested a midnight exception for specific events but worried about enforcement complexity.
The council provided guidance to proceed with a resolution and ordinance for formal consideration at next week’s meeting; no formal vote was taken at the study session.
