Orange Beach council debates tightening rules for rental golf carts, flags and e-bike safety

Council members spent the longest portion of their March 3 committee meeting focusing on a perceived loophole in the city's golf-cart rental rules that allows out-of-city companies to deliver rental carts and boats into Orange Beach without local licensing or tax remittance.

City staff and the council said the change under consideration would prohibit delivery by companies that do not hold an Orange Beach business license and would authorize citations for violations. "Right now we don't have a requirement that anyone have a license to deliver an item to the city," said Jamie, the city attorney, explaining the ambiguity in the rental ordinance and outlining proposed language to close it.

Council members emphasized enforcement tools. One member argued that a uniform visible identifier would make it easier for officers to spot unlicensed rentals and connect violations to a specific company. "With that flag sticking up and a number on the cart, I would imagine then we could connect it with whoever rented it," the mayor/chair said during the discussion.

Rental operators and residents pushed back on some specifics. Tater Harris, who identified himself and gave an address for the record, said his fleet uses numbered stickers and company logos and that flags attached with Velcro can be removed for storage or garage clearance. "We have license plates on them, come back to the company," he told the council, noting practical problems with fixed flag mounts and frequent removal when carts are stored indoors.

Council members suggested refinements rather than abandoning the idea of a visible marker. Options discussed included a standardized, uniform flag design and a numbered system tied to an inspection process, reflective stickers on the rear of carts, and making the flag part of the city inspection so counterfeit flags could be identified. "If you're gonna require the flags, it would be something through our inspection process that we would have a certain flag that would be replicated to the best of our ability," said Jamie.

Technology-based options were also raised. One rental industry representative suggested geofencing and speed-limiting devices that slow carts when they leave approved areas; staff estimated those devices cost in the low hundreds apiece and could be phased in if the council wanted to pursue that route.

Safety concerns about electric bikes and scooters were raised in the same discussion thread. Council members cited incidents of young riders without helmets and the higher speed of some class-3 e-bikes as issues for future regulation. "We have to protect people from themselves," one council member said, urging that helmet use and speed classifications be part of follow-up work.

Council direction: members asked staff and key council volunteers to meet with police and rental operators to refine ordinance language, enforcement mechanics and identification standards and to return with a draft for formal amendment. No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the council instructed staff to draft specific changes and explore enforcement options, including the possible use of reflective identifiers or technology solutions.