For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
Daytime.
The period beginning one-half hour before sunrise and ending one-half hour after sunset.
Golf cart.
The meaning assigned by section 502.001 of the Texas Transportation Code.
(Ordinance 17-09 adopted 1/16/18)
The operation of golf carts by persons 18 years of age and older is authorized upon public streets and highways within the city subject to the following requirements:
(1) 
Golf carts may only be operated by persons with a valid operator’s permit and/or driver’s license.
(2) 
Golf carts may not be operated upon any street or highway where the posted speed limit or the statutory speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour.
(3) 
Golf carts may only be operated during daytime and not more than two miles from the location the golf cart is normally parked as listed on the registration application.
(4) 
Golf carts may not be operated upon any public sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, playgrounds, public parks, school grounds, or other public recreational areas, not designated for motor vehicle traffic.
(5) 
Golf carts may not pull trailers, boats, jet skis, other objects or people on public streets and the right-of-way.
(6) 
Golf carts shall follow all rules of the road as required by the Texas Transportation Code. Golf carts shall carry liability insurance in the amounts required for motor vehicles.
(7) 
Golf carts shall not carry more passengers than for which the golf cart was designed by the manufacturer.
(8) 
Golf carts must be equipped with a slow-moving-vehicle emblem that:
(A) 
Has a reflective surface designed to be clearly visible in daylight or at night from the light of standard automobile headlamps at a distance of at least 500 feet;
(B) 
Is mounted base down on the rear of the vehicle at a height from three to five feet above the road surface; and
(C) 
Is maintained in a clean, reflective condition.
(9) 
Golf carts must be equipped with the following minimum equipment as mandated by Texas Transportation Code sec. 551.404(a) as amended:
(A) 
Headlamps;
(B) 
Tail lamps;
(C) 
Reflectors;
(D) 
Parking brake; and
(E) 
Rearview mirror(s).
(10) 
Golf carts must move to the right and yield the right-of-way to faster moving vehicles.
(11) 
The driver and every occupant of a golf cart must remain seated, in a seat designed to hold passengers, while the golf cart is in motion.
(12) 
No person may ride in the lap of the driver or any other occupant.
(Ordinance 17-09 adopted 1/16/18)
(a) 
No person may operate a golf cart upon any public street or highway within the corporate boundaries of the city unless said golf cart is licensed by the city and a license certificate is permanently affixed to the golf cart as prescribed by this section.
(b) 
Such license shall be purchased annually.
The license fee is $10.00. The license, regardless of when purchased, shall be valid until the thirty-first day of December of the year purchased.
(c) 
A separate license is required for every golf cart owned by an individual or entity. A golf cart license is valid only for the golf cart that it is issued to and is not transferable from one golf cart to another.
(d) 
The city administrator or designee shall issue a golf cart registration sticker to each person purchasing a city golf cart license. The registration sticker shall be permanently affixed to the front of the golf cart and displayed so that it is readily visible and identifiable from a distance of more than fifty (50) feet.
(e) 
The registration sticker shall be issued only upon the owner showing a valid insurance certificate or other evidence satisfying the city administrator or designee that the golf cart is insured consistent with state standards for motor vehicles.
(f) 
Owners of golf carts shall set up an inspection of the golf cart with the city administrator prior to operating the golf cart on public streets or highways.
(g) 
Upon proof that the original golf cart registration sticker was lost, stolen, or damaged beyond recognition, a duplicate of the golf cart registration sticker issued by the city shall be furnished on payment of a fee to be set by city council by resolution.
(Ordinance 17-09 adopted 1/16/18; Ordinance 18-09 adopted 10/16/18)
The city administrator or designee shall maintain a record containing the following information for each golf cart licensed within the preceding two (2) years:
(1) 
The name of the owner of the golf cart;
(2) 
The address of the owner;
(3) 
Proof of insurance (including name of carrier and policy number);
(4) 
The location the golf cart is normally parked;
(5) 
The date the golf cart was licensed;
(6) 
The date the license shall expire;
(7) 
The make/manufacturer of the golf cart licensed;
(8) 
The model of the golf cart licensed;
(9) 
The number of seats the golf cart has;
(10) 
The color of the golf cart licensed;
(11) 
The vehicle identification number or serial number of the golf cart licensed;
(12) 
The serial number of the golf cart license certificate;
(13) 
The fee paid for the license; and
(14) 
The method of fee payment.
(Ordinance 17-09 adopted 1/16/18)
Any person, firm or corporation who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction, be fined in accordance with the general penalty provision set forth in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(Ordinance 17-09 adopted 1/16/18)
(a) 
In addition to assessment of penalties and/or fines, the city administrator or designee may suspend or revoke a golf cart license if the city administrator or his designee determines that:
(1) 
There is a false statement of a material matter on the application for a golf cart license;
(2) 
The golf cart license holder has in excess of three (3) moving violations of this article during a license year; or
(3) 
The golf cart license holder has failed to make timely payment of a fee or penalty for violation of this article.
(b) 
Any license holder aggrieved by a decision to suspend or revoke a golf cart license may appeal the decision to the mayor by filing with the city secretary a written request for a hearing setting forth the reasons for the appeal within ten (10) days after the city administrator or designee notifies the license holder of the decision to suspend or revoke the golf cart license.
(c) 
The filing of a request for an appeal hearing with the city secretary does not stay any action by the city administrator in suspending or revoking the golf cart license.
(d) 
The mayor or designee, which must be a member of the city council, shall serve as a hearing officer at an appeal and consider evidence by any interested person. The formal rules of evidence do not apply at an appeal hearing. The hearing officer shall make their decision on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing. The hearing officer must render a decision within twenty (20) days after the request for an appeal hearing is filed. The hearing officer shall affirm, reverse or modify the action of the city administrator. The decision of the hearing officer is final as to administrative remedies with the city.
(Ordinance 17-09 adopted 1/16/18)