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Rep. Saint Germain urges letting larger Michigan towns allow golf carts on local roads
Summary
Representative Saint Germain told the House Transportation Committee his bill would raise the population threshold allowing municipalities to permit golf carts from 30,000 to 65,000 residents, saying it is a local-option change; the County Road Association testified neutrally and flagged safety and signage cost concerns.
Representative Saint Germain told the House Transportation Committee that his bill would expand the population threshold that allows local governments to permit golf carts from 30,000 to 65,000 residents, framing the change as “local control” rather than a state mandate. "This bill would simply expand the population threshold to 65,000 population," he said, adding that municipalities could still opt out.
Saint Germain said the measure is designed to let communities decide based on their roads and safety needs and stressed it would not allow travel on M-roads or highways; golf carts would be permitted to cross those roads but not travel along them. He described the change as a practical response to shifting local travel patterns in lake towns and small downtowns where low-speed, short-distance trips make golf carts useful.
Committee members pressed for operational details. Representative Brock asked whether golf carts would be registered with the state or required to display placards; the sponsor said registration and permit requirements would be set by individual municipalities and that golf carts typically do not have license plates. Saint Germain and members noted that existing safety equipment rules require headlights and taillights and that carts are generally restricted to daylight hours unless appropriately equipped.
Representative Miller asked whether county roads would be included; the sponsor said the bill excludes M-roads and highways but does include county roads under municipal authority. When asked who would assume liability after an accident, the sponsor said liability would likely fall to the municipality in coordination with county road commissions and local police.
Ed Noyola of the County Road Association testified neutrally and focused on safety and cost. Noyola said there are currently 25 townships with populations over 30,000 out of roughly 1,240 townships, and that raising the threshold to 65,000 would reduce that number to six. "Our concern is always safety," Noyola said, raising questions about how a visiting driver or renter would know local speed limits and who would pay to install or replace additional speed-limit and warning signs in rights-of-way.
Committee members and witnesses discussed whether golf carts should be folded into ORV (off-road vehicle) programs or require DNR stickers; witnesses said golf carts generally are not treated the same as off-road vehicles and that stickers are not commonly required for roadway use unless the vehicle is used off-road. Members also noted the regulatory complexity of comparing carts to e-bikes and mopeds, and stressed that local ordinances could set hours, equipment and speed rules.
The committee did not take a vote on the bill during the hearing. The discussion closed after support cards and testimony were recorded and the committee proceeded to other business.
