Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a means of travel
that is not only convenient and safe, but conserves resources and
protects the environment. Golf carts, if properly used, are an effective
way to travel for short distances within the City. However, to ensure
the public safety and welfare, the operation of golf carts must not
only comply with normal regulations regarding vehicles, but should
comply with special safety regulations intended to protect the operator
and passengers in a vehicle that is primarily designed for operation
on a golf course or recreational purposes. This section establishes
the basic, minimum standards of care to be used by the operators of
golf carts on public roads, streets and highways. Likewise, the public
safety requires that golf carts, used as a means of transportation,
must also meet certain minimum safety standards that can only be assured
through a system of registration and inspection. The registration
and inspection of golf carts is required in order to protect the public
health, safety and welfare.
A vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf
course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable
of exceeding 20 miles per hour.
Allowed. The operation of golf carts on the public streets within
the City in compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be
permitted; however, it shall be unlawful to operate any golf cart
that is not properly registered with the City or to operate any golf
cart at any place or in any manner not authorized herein.
The use of a golf cart in connection with a parade, a festival
or other special event, provided the consent of the sponsor is obtained
and provided such vehicle is only used during such event.
License required. No person who is less than 16 years of age or who
does not have a valid driver's license issued under or granted
by the laws of Wisconsin or some other state may operate a golf cart
on any public street within the City. For purposes of this section,
a learner's permit shall not be considered as a valid driver's
license nor shall any license that has been revoked, temporary or
otherwise, or suspended for any reason, be considered as a valid driver's
license during the period of suspension or revocation.
Required. No golf cart may be operated on any public street within
the City unless the golf cart has first been registered with the Marion
Police Department as required herein. The registration shall be renewed
thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this section. To evidence
the registration, the owner shall be issued an annual permit, which
shall be displayed in a prominent, visible place on the rear fender
of the golf cart or at such other place as may be approved by the
Police Department. The permit may contain a registration number assigned
for the particular golf cart and may contain an expiration date.
Registration fee. A registration fee in the amount established in
the Schedule of Fees adopted by the City Council shall be paid to
the City at the time the application for registration is filed with
the Marion Police Department or for any renewal of the application.
Application. The application for registration shall be made to the
Marion Police Chief, or to some other person designated, on forms
provided by the City. The application may, among other things, require
the owner's name, street address, mailing address, a phone number,
the make, model and identification or serial number of the golf cart,
proof of insurance and such other information as may be reasonably
required as well as a release or disclaimer of liability by the City
for accidents involving the registered golf cart.
Procedures. The Chief of Police may establish written procedures,
consistent with this chapter, setting out the process and the procedure,
including the form of the application, the checklist for items to
be inspected and the type of sticker, plate or tag evidencing the
issuance of the registration permit.
Inspection. Prior to issuing the initial registration permit, the
golf cart shall either be inspected, or in place of inspection, the
Marion Police Department may require photographs submitted of the
golf cart, to determine that:
The golf cart has all of the standard safety features provided
by the manufacturer and has not been modified to exceed a speed of
20 miles per hour, nor otherwise modified in any way that creates
a hazard; and
Denial and revocation. The initial registration of a golf cart may
be denied or subsequently revoked by the Marion Police Department
if it is determined that:
Equipment supplied by the manufacturer, especially safety equipment,
has been removed from the golf cart or the vehicle identification
or serial number removed; or
Financial responsibility. The owner of a golf cart required to be
registered with the City for use on the public streets of the City
shall maintain in full force and effect and continuously throughout
any period of registration.
Disqualified vehicles. ATVs, four-wheel utility vehicles and other
similar utility vehicles which are not manufactured for operation
on a golf course and golf carts which have been modified so that they
no longer meet the definition of a golf cart may not be registered
as golf carts, nor shall such vehicles be operated on the public roads
within the City unless such vehicles are otherwise registered with
and allowed under the motor vehicle laws of the State of Wisconsin.
Manner of operation. Golf carts shall not be operated on the public
streets of the City, except in full compliance with the provisions
of this section.
Hours of operation. Golf carts may be driven on approved public streets
from sunrise until sunset, except that golf carts equipped with at
least one operating headlight, having at least a fifty-five-watt halogen,
or equal, bulb on the front of the golf cart, and two operating tail
lights on either side of the rear of the golf cart, all of which are
visible for a distance of not less than 250 feet, may be operated
from one-half-hour before sunrise until one-half-hour after sunset.
Golf carts may not be operated when fog, smog, smoke or other conditions
reduce visibility so that the golf cart is not visible for a distance
of 250 feet.
Streets. Golf carts may not be operated on any of the following streets
or sections of any street except for the sole purpose of crossing
such street either at a signalized intersection or at a perpendicular
crossing at a through intersection:
Motor vehicle laws. All laws regarding the use of motor vehicles
in the State of Wisconsin and all ordinances regarding the use of
motor vehicles in the City not inconsistent therewith shall be observed,
except that no golf cart may be operated at a speed in excess of 20
miles per hour.
City property and sidewalks. Golf carts shall not be operated on
any sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, jogging path, greenway, park, and
trail except for official police business or by City personnel while
on City business. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
golf carts shall not be operated on property owned or leased by the
City except with the express written consent of the Public Works Director
and/or the Chief of Police and upon the terms and conditions as may
be set forth in such written permission.
Golf cart capacity. The seating capacity (normally no more than four
passengers) shall not be exceeded nor shall the operator or any passenger
be permitted to stand while the golf cart is in operation.
Parking. Golf carts may only be parked in the same manner and at
the same places designated for the parking of motor vehicles. The
stopping, standing or parking of golf carts in areas where parking
is not allowed or in any place that impedes the flow of traffic, pedestrian
walkways or a passageway is prohibited.
Towing. Golf carts may not be used for the purpose of towing another
cart, trailer or vehicle of any kind including a person on roller
skates, skateboard or bicycle.
Disclaimer. Golf carts are not designed for nor manufactured to be
used on public streets and the City neither advocates nor endorses
the golf cart as a safe means of travel on public streets, road and
highways. The City in no way shall be liable for accidents, injuries
or death involving the operation of a golf cart.
Assumption of risk. Any person, who owns, operates or rides upon
a golf cart on a public street, road or highway within the City does
so at his or her own risk and peril and assumes all liability resulting
from the operation of the golf cart.
Violations and penalties. If any person shall violate this section,
he or she shall be guilty of a forfeiture and shall be fined not more
than an amount set forth in the Schedule of Fees adopted by the City
Council annually, except that the owner or operator of a golf cart
who shall violate a provision regulating the parking of vehicles shall
be subject to a civil penalty in the amount set forth in the Schedule
of Fees adopted by the City Council annually, including the imposition
of larger civil penalties for multiple or repeat offenses within a
specified period of time.