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Peculiar board declines to pursue a golf‑cart ordinance, cites state law for low‑speed vehicles
Summary
A previously tabled golf‑cart bill was discussed and board members said they will not ask staff to draft a city ordinance, preferring to rely on Missouri statute 304.029 governing low‑speed vehicles and related insurance and liability limits.
Board members revisited a previously tabled bill on golf carts and weighed whether to shift to a low‑speed vehicle (LSV) ordinance.
Staff reported that golf carts generally are covered by homeowner policies only when used on private property and that some insurers will not insure carts for road use. The staff presentation noted a liability concern if the city creates a permitting regime for golf carts: "We would likely win the lawsuit at trial, but that's typically not what happens 99% of the time when you get sued," staff said, urging caution about taking on exposure that could end in settlement.
Staff distinguished golf carts from federally defined low‑speed vehicles and pointed to Missouri statute 304.029, which has allowed LSV operation on some streets since 2004, subject to conditions including driver licensing, insurance and a prohibition on streets with speed limits above 35 mph. The board indicated there was no desire to have staff draft a local ordinance permitting golf carts and signaled the intent to follow the state statute for LSVs.
No motion was taken to adopt a new ordinance; the discussion concluded with a consensus to leave state rules in place and not pursue a golf‑cart permitting program.
