As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated as follows:
City.
The City of Pineland, Texas.
Driver’s License.
An authorization issued by the department of public safety for operation of a motor vehicle. The term includes a temporary license or instruction permit and an occupational license.
Golf Cart.
Shall have the meaning assigned by the Texas Transportation Code 502.001, as amended, and means a motor vehicle commonly referred to as a golf cart which must have a minimum of four wheels and has an attainable top speed not greater than 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface and which is manufactured primarily for transporting persons on a golf course and in compliance with those federal motor vehicle safety standards for low-speed vehicles. Specifically excluded from this definition are those motorized conveyances commonly referred to as all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”), (“UTV’S”), off-road vehicles, four-wheelers, Mules, Gators and design-altered golf carts which have been altered to allow them to travel at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour.
Nighttime.
Shall have the meaning assigned by Texas Transportation Code 541.401(5) and means the period beginning one-half hour after sunset and ending one-half hour before sunrise.
Operate.
The driving of a golf cart.
Operator.
Any person driving and having physical control over the golf cart.
Park or Parking.
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually engaged in, loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
Parking Area.
Those areas accessible to the public by motor vehicular traffic and which are designated for temporary parking of motor vehicles, usually in places referred to as parking lots.
Street.
A public roadway of the City of Pineland, Texas by whatever name (e.g., road, alley, avenue, highway, route, boulevard, etc.) that:
(1) 
Provides for no more than two lanes of vehicular traffic per direction; or
(2) 
Is not designated as part of either the state or federal highway system.
(Ordinance 239 adopted 7/30/20)
Golf carts are permitted to be operated on:
(1) 
Streets (“permitted streets”) where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less, and the street is not designated as part of a state highway system, including FM 1, Hwy 83, Hwy 96, FM 2426 (not permitted);
(2) 
A “public highway” as defined by the Texas Transportation Code, section 502.001, if the public highway is in the corporate limits of the city; and
(3) 
A parking area as defined by this article.
(Ordinance 239 adopted 7/30/20)
(a) 
Before any golf cart may be operated on any permitted street, public highway, or parking area of the city (“permitted locations”), it must be registered by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and display the license plate as mandated by the Texas Transportation Code, section 551.402.
(b) 
In addition to any state requirement for registration, all golf carts operated on permitted locations shall be registered with the city. The chief of police shall establish registration procedures and shall cause a permit to be issued to all applicants who have fulfilled the proper registration requirements. The city council shall review and approve the registration requirements before the requirements are effective.
(c) 
The cost for the permit from the city shall be $20.00, and the permit shall expire on December 31st of the following year.
(Ordinance 239 adopted 7/30/20)
(a) 
A golf cart properly registered under section 12.803 of this article must be equipped with the following equipment as mandated by the Texas Transportation Code, section 551.404(a), as amended, and/or required by the city, to operate on permitted locations:
(1) 
Operational headlamps;
(2) 
Operational tail lamps;
(3) 
Side reflectors;
(4) 
Operational parking brake;
(5) 
Rear view mirror(s); and
(6) 
Orange reflective triangle.
(b) 
A golf cart that is operated at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour shall display a slow-moving-vehicle emblem when it is operated on a public highway, as defined by Texas Transportation Code, section 502.001.
(c) 
Additionally, golf carts driven during the nighttime shall be equipped with the following:
(1) 
Turn signals;
(2) 
Horn;
(3) 
Brake lights; and
(4) 
Seat belts.
(d) 
Equipment and its installation must meet standards provided by Texas Transportation Code, as amended.
(e) 
All such safety equipment shall be maintained as required by state law.
(Ordinance 239 adopted 7/30/20)
(a) 
All registered operators of golf carts shall:
(1) 
Be licensed to operate a motor vehicle as provided by Texas Transportation Code, 521.021, as amended, and carry a valid driver’s license as provided by Texas Transportation Code, 521.025, and all driver’s license permissions and restrictions shall apply to the operating of a golf cart;
(2) 
Abide by all traffic regulations applicable to vehicular traffic when operating a golf cart in the city;
(3) 
Use standard hand signals for turning during daylight if the operator’s golf cart is not equipped with turn signals;
(4) 
Not operate or park a golf cart on a sidewalk at any time;
(5) 
Not pull any object or person with a golf cart in a permitted location;
(6) 
Maintain financial responsibility as required for other passenger vehicles in the Texas Transportation Code, 601.051;
(7) 
Not intentionally or knowingly allow an unlicensed or unregistered operator to operate a golf cart in violation of this chapter;
(8) 
Not exceed the seating capacity of the golf cart as designed by the manufacturer;
(9) 
Be allowed to cross streets which are otherwise not permitted locations under this article.
(b) 
Operators and passengers of golf carts shall:
(1) 
Remain seated at all times while the golf cart is in motion;
(2) 
Be three years old or older.
(Ordinance 239 adopted 7/30/20)
Any person who violates this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(Ordinance 239 adopted 7/30/20)