This chapter is adopted in the interest of public safety and
transportation efficiency. All persons operating golf carts and NVs
must be observant of, and attentive to, the safety of themselves and
others, including their passengers, other motorists, bicyclists and
pedestrians. All persons who operate or ride golf carts and NVs on
Village streets do so at their own risk and peril. The Village of
Harristown disclaims any liability under any theory of liability for
permitting golf carts and NVs to be operated on Village streets.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
GOLF CART
A vehicle specifically designed and intended for the purposes
of transporting one or more persons and their golf clubs or maintenance
equipment while engaged in the playing of golf, supervising the playing
of golf, or maintaining the condition of the ground on a public or
private golf course.
NEIGHBORHOOD VEHICLE (NV)
A self-propelled, electronically powered four-wheeled motor
vehicle (or a self-propelled, gasoline-powered four-wheeled motor
vehicle with an engine displacement under 1,200 cubic centimeters)
which is capable of attaining in one mile a speed of more than 20
miles per hour but not more than 25 miles per hour, and which conforms
to federal regulations under Title 49 CFR 571.500.
It shall be lawful to operate a golf cart or NV on Village streets
subject to the requirements and regulations of this chapter.
A golf cart or NV to be operated on a Village street shall have
the following equipment in good working condition at all times:
(E)Â A slow-moving emblem required by 625 ILCS 5/12-709 attached to the
rear and a red reflector warning device on the front and rear;
(F)Â Two headlights that emit white light visible from at least 500 feet
to the front;
(G)Â Two tail lamps that emit red light visible from at least 100 feet
to the rear;
(H)Â Two brake lights on rear;
(I)Â Turn signals on front and rear; and
(J)Â A permanently mounted seat for each passenger that was installed
by the manufacturer.
A golf cart or NV operated on a Village Street shall have the
headlights and tail lamps on at all times.
A golf cart or NV may transport only the number of passengers
for which the specific golf cart or NV was designed. Every passenger
shall sit in a permanently mounted seat that was installed by the
manufacturer of the golf cart or NV. It shall be unlawful for the
operator of a golf cart or NV to transport passengers unless each
passenger is in a seat. The operator of a golf cart or NV shall not
transport anyone who is sitting in the lap of a passenger or in any
other location except in a seat.
All trailers or carts being pulled by a golf cart or NV must
have tail lamps, brake lights and brakes in good working condition.
The tail lamps shall be on at all times. It shall be unlawful for
any person or animal to be in a trailer or cart when being pulled
by a golf cart or RV.
It shall be unlawful for the owner of a golf cart or NV to modify
or alter a golf cart or NV from the original manufacturer's specifications
that would result in a golf cart or NV being faster or larger than
originally manufactured.
No person shall operate a golf cart or NV on a Village street
unless the operator is at least 16 years old and has a valid Illinois
driver's license.
No person shall operate a golf cart or NV on a Village street
in excess of 30 miles per hour.
The operator of a golf cart or NV on Village streets shall obey
all ordinances of the Village of Harristown and the provisions of
the Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1 and 625 ILCS 5/11-148,
as amended from time to time.
No person shall operate a golf cart or NV on a Village street
unless the golf cart or NV has been issued a license by the Village.
A person desiring a license shall make application to the Chief of
Police, or his or her designee, on forms provided by the Village.
The license shall be valid for a period of one year from January 1
until December 31. Prior to the issuance of the license, a fee of
$25 shall be paid to the Village Administrative Clerk by the applicant,
and the applicant shall present the golf cart or NV to the Chief of
Police, or his or her designee, for an inspection to determine whether
the golf cart or NV may be operated on a Village street. If the applicant
and the golf cart or NV pass the inspection, a license shall be issued
to the applicant.
No person shall operate, and no owner shall permit another person
to operate, a golf cart or NV on a Village street unless:
(A)Â The golf cart or NV is covered by a liability insurance policy as
required by Section 7-601 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/7-601);
and
(B)Â The operator of the golf cart or NV carries with him or her proof
of liability insurance as required by Section 7-602 of the Illinois
Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/7-602).
If a golf cart or NV that has a current license is sold, the new owner shall sign an ownership transfer form at the Village of Harristown Village Hall and present proof of insurance before the new owner may operate the cart or NV in the Village of Harristown. The new owner may operate the golf cart or NV for the remaining unexpired time of the license. At the end of the license period, which shall run from January I to December 31, the new owner must apply for a license pursuant to §Â
16-1-13.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the Village Board
that the sections, paragraph, sentences, clauses and phrases of this
chapter are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph
or section of same shall be declared unconstitutional or otherwise
invalid by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect
any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, sections
of this chapter, since the same would have been enacted by the Village
Board without the incorporation in this chapter of any such unconditional
or invalid phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
If there is an error in printing, the publishing requirement
of this chapter shall be accomplished by reprinting that portion of
the chapter which was in error within 30 days after passage is validated.