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Committee adopts amendment to loosen go-kart age and speed rules; bill passes subcommittee
Summary
Sen. Alan Blackman's SB150 — which would allow rental go-karts to be driven by 15‑year‑olds with parental permission and raise a referenced maximum speed to not over 50 mph — was introduced and adopted as amended in subcommittee by unanimous voice/hand vote.
Senate Bill 150, introduced to amend the South Carolina amusement-ride safety code as it applies to rental go-karts, was adopted as amended by the Regulatory Review Committee.
Senator Alan Blackman, who represents Lancaster and parts of Kershaw and Chesterfield counties, described the bill as a measure to reduce the minimum driving age for rental go-karts from 18 to 15 with parental permission and an appropriate driver’s license or permit. The bill also removes the adjective 'permanent' from the description of amusement devices, adjusts a maximum cart speed reference from "in excess of 40" to "not in excess of 50 miles per hour," and removes a specific reference to the track containment system.
Committee members offered brief remarks in support (Representative Randy Ligon recounted personal anecdotes about driving at a young age). A motion to adopt an amendment was made and adopted; a subsequent motion to adopt the bill as amended carried by voice/hand vote and was announced unanimous by the chair. The committee did not record a roll-call tally during the session.
The bill will proceed according to the legislative calendar after subcommittee action.
