[Adopted 10-26-2010]
Pursuant to § 46.2-916.2, et. seq. of the Code of
Virginia of 1950, as amended, the following article is hereby adopted.
This article is adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Mathews
County, Virginia, after considering the speed, volume and character
of motor vehicle traffic using the highways designated below and determining
that golf cart and utility vehicle operation on these designated highways
is compatible with state and local transportation plans and consistent
with the Commonwealth’s Statewide Pedestrian Policy provided
for in §33.1-23.03:001 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended,
and that the use of the designated highways by golf carts and utility
vehicles will not impede the safe and efficient flow of motor vehicle
traffic.
"Golf cart," "utility vehicle" and "highway" shall all be defined
pursuant to § 46.2-100 of the Code of Virginia of 1950,
as amended, for the purposes of this article as follows:
A self-propelled vehicle that is designed to transport persons
playing golf and their equipment on a golf course.
The entire width between the boundary lines of every way
or place open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic
in the County of Mathews, including the streets and alleys, and for
law enforcement purposes, the entire width between all the boundary
lines of all private roads or private streets that have been specifically
designated highways by an ordinance adopted by the governing body
of the County of Mathews in which such private roads or streets are
located and the entire width between the boundary lines of every way
or place used for purposes of vehicular travel on any property owned,
leased or controlled by the United States government and located in
the commonwealth.
A motor vehicle that is designed for off-road use, powered
by an engine of no more than 25 horsepower, and used for general maintenance,
security, agricultural or horticultural purposes. ("Utility vehicle"
does not include all-terrain vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100
of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, riding lawn mowers or
any other vehicle whose definition is included in said section.)
A.
No person
shall operate a golf cart or utility vehicle on or over any public
highway in the County of Mathews, subject to the following exceptions.
B.
Golf carts
and utility vehicles shall be allowed only on public highways designated
in the present article or amendments thereto, and all such use shall
be subject to the following:
(1)
A
golf cart or utility vehicle may be operated only on designated public
highways where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less.
(2)
A
golf cart or utility vehicle may cross a highway at an intersection
controlled by a traffic light or conspicuously marked as a golf cart
crossing by signs posted by the Virginia Department of Transportation
if the highway has a posted speed limit of no more than 35 miles per
hour.
(3)
No
person shall operate any golf cart or utility vehicle on any public
highway unless he/she has in his/her possession a valid driver’s
license.
(4)
Every
golf cart or utility vehicle, whenever operated on a public highway,
shall display a slow-moving-vehicle emblem in conformity with § 46.2-1081
of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended.
(5)
Golf
carts and utility vehicles shall be operated upon the public highways
only between sunrise and sunset unless equipped with such lights as
are required by Article 3 of § 46.2-1010, et seq. of the
Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, for different classes of vehicles.
(6)
The
limitations set forth above shall not apply to golf carts and utility
vehicles being operated as follows:
(a)
To the extent necessary for local government employees operating
only upon highways located within the locality to fulfill governmental
purposes, provided that the golf cart or utility vehicle is being
operated on highways with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less.
(7)
The
driver and passengers of a golf cart or utility vehicle shall not,
at any time, exceed the maximum number for which the golf cart or
utility vehicle is designed.
(8)
Golf
carts and utility vehicles shall not be operated subsequent to modifications
to increase their capacity for speed.
(9)
Golf
carts and utility vehicles shall be allowed in the following designated
areas:
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Dixie Drive (State Route No. 1010) in its entirety
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Edwards Court (State Route No. 1011) in its entirety
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A violation of any provision of this article of the Mathews
County Ordinances shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punishable pursuant to the provisions
of § 18.2-11 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended.
