Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Township adopts rules, inspections and registration for golf carts on local roads
Summary
Hamilton Township approved Resolution 26-0603A to allow regulated golf cart use on township streets posted 25 mph or lower, requiring inspections, BMV registration, proof of insurance and a minimum operator age of 16; trustees voted unanimously.
Hamilton Township’s board of trustees voted unanimously to adopt a resolution that authorizes the regulated use of golf carts on township streets with posted speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less.
Chief Short outlined the new requirements, saying inspections will be conducted by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that residents will receive a form to take to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to register the vehicle. "You also have to have proof of insurance on the vehicle," Chief Short said, adding that operators must be at least 16 with a valid driver's license.
The resolution, identified in the record as 26-0603A, was presented as a response to repeated resident complaints over the past three years and guidance from the county prosecutor’s office recommending clear rules before ramping up enforcement. Chief Short said the township will emphasize education for the first 60 to 90 days after adoption and use officer discretion for enforcement thereafter.
Under the adopted rules, golf carts may operate on township roadways posted 25 mph or less and may cross higher-speed roads only to reach another qualifying township road. They may not operate on county or state roads with speed limits above 25 mph unless those jurisdictions adopt separate rules. The chief said inspections can be done at residents’ homes if they cannot bring a cart in for an appointment.
Trustees recorded unanimous approval of the resolution: Mr. Rosie, Mr. Cordre and Mr. Susa each voted "yes." The motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded in the meeting record; the record does not specify the individual who made the motion by name.
The township said it will publish a one-page summary of equipment and inspection requirements on its website immediately after approval, and staff plan outreach to homeowners associations to share the new procedures.
The resolution will be enforced through standard traffic citations handled in county court if necessary; fines are determined by the judge in those proceedings. The board emphasized the policy aims to permit limited, safe neighborhood uses — "to get to your community clubhouse," the chief said — while keeping carts off higher-speed roadways.
