The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Driver.
The person driving and having physical control over the golf cart.
Golf cart.
Shall have the meaning assigned by the Texas Transportation Code, section 502.001(18), as amended, and means a motor vehicle commonly referred to as a golf cart, which must have 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”), 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.
Motorized cart.
Those electric and gasoline powered carts, commonly referred to as golf carts, but which must have a minimum of three wheels and which have an attainable top speed not greater than 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface and which is manufactured 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 ATV’s, four-wheelers, mules and gators.
Owner.
The person holding title to 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.
Public safety personnel.
Any employee or officer of a governmental law enforcement agency or the city or its department(s).
Public street.
The public roadways of the city by whatever name, e.g. road, alley, avenue, highway, route, boulevard, etc. within the corporate boundaries of the city that:
(1) 
Has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less;
(2) 
Provides for no more than one lane of vehicular traffic per direction;
(3) 
Is not designated as part of either the state or federal highway system.
Sidewalk.
The portion of a street that is between a curb or lateral line of a roadway and the adjacent property line and intended for pedestrian use.
Slow moving vehicle emblem.
A triangular emblem that conforms to standards and specifications adopted by the director of the state department of transportation under section 547.104 of the Texas Transportation Code and is displayed in accordance with section 547.703 of the Texas Transportation Code.
Texas Transportation Code.
The code as it currently exists or may be amended.
Traffic way.
Is any land way open to the public as a matter of right or custom for moving persons or property from one place to another. The traffic way includes all property, both improved and unimproved, between the property lines of a roadway system.
(Ordinance 2016-1107, sec. 1.01, adopted 11/21/16)
A person, other than public safety personnel, may operate a golf cart on a public street, parking area and/or traffic way if the person meets the following requirements:
(1) 
The maximum speed limit on the public street is thirty-five (35) miles per hour or less;
(2) 
The person is eighteen (18) years of age or older;
(3) 
The person maintains current financial responsibility for the golf cart, as required of other passenger vehicles in section 601.051 of the Texas Transportation Code;
(4) 
The person complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances;
(5) 
The golf cart has the following equipment, which must continuously remain in good working and operational order:
(A) 
Two (2) headlamps;
(B) 
Two (2) tail lamps;
(C) 
Side reflectors (two (2) front, amber in color and two (2) rear, red in color);
(D) 
Parking brake;
(E) 
Rearview mirror(s), capable of a clear, unobstructed view of at least two hundred feet (200') to the rear;
(F) 
Slow moving vehicle emblem(s) having a reflective surface designed to be clearly visible in daylight or at night from the light of standard headlamps at a distance of at least 500 feet and shall be mounted base down on the rear of the vehicle at a height from three to five feet above the road surface and shall be maintained in a clean reflective condition;
(6) 
The equipment described herein meets the state and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, as they exist or may be amended; and
(7) 
While the golf cart is in motion, the driver and every passenger in a golf cart is seated in a seat designed to hold passengers. No person may stand or ride in the lap of the driver and/or other passenger of a golf cart while it is moving.
(Ordinance 2016-1107, sec. 1.02, adopted 11/21/16)
In addition to the requirements set forth herein, every golf cart powered by gasoline shall at all times be equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation and meet the following specifications:
(1) 
The exhaust system shall include the piping leading from the flange of the exhaust manifold to and including the muffler and exhaust pipes or including any and all parts specified by the manufacturer;
(2) 
The exhaust system and its elements shall be securely fastened with brackets or hangers, which are designed for the particular purpose of fastening golf cart exhaust systems;
(3) 
The engine and powered mechanism of every golf cart shall be so equipped, adjusted and tuned so that the exhaust is in good working order; and
(4) 
It shall be unlawful for the owner of any golf cart to operate or permit the operation of such golf cart on which any device controlling or abating atmospheric emissions which is placed on a golf cart by the manufacturer is rendered unserviceable by removal, alteration or which interferes with its operation.
(Ordinance 2016-1107, sec. 1.03, adopted 11/21/16)
(a) 
Except for public safety personnel, golf carts shall not be operated on any sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, jogging path, park trail or any location normally used for pedestrian traffic;
(b) 
All golf carts are entitled to a full use of a lane on the authorized public streets, parking areas and traffic ways of the city, and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any golf cart of the full use of a lane;
(c) 
The driver of a golf cart shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken;
(d) 
No driver shall operate a golf cart between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles;
(e) 
The number of occupants in a golf cart shall be limited to the number of persons for whom factory seating is installed and provided on the golf cart;
(f) 
Children must be properly seated while a golf cart is in motion and may not be transported in a reckless or negligent manner. No person younger than six (6) years of age may be transported in a golf cart unless restrained by a safety belt restraint;
(g) 
Golf carts may not be used for the purpose of towing; and
(h) 
Golf carts shall not be operated during inclement weather or when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog, or other condition, or at any time when there is insufficient light to clearly see persons or vehicles on the roadway at a distance of five hundred feet (500').
(Ordinance 2016-1107, sec. 1.04, adopted 11/21/16)
(a) 
Nothing in this article shall be construed as an assumption of liability by the city for any injuries (including death) to persons, pets or property which may result from the operation of a golf cart by an authorized driver; and
(b) 
Owners are fully liable and accountable for the action of any individual that they provide permission to operate and drive said golf cart, both on personal and/or any authorized public streets, parking areas and traffic ways. This described liability responsibility especially applies to personal injuries (including death) or property damage resulting from golf cart drivers who are minors under the age of twenty-one (21) with or without a current and valid driver’s license.
(Ordinance 2016-1107, sec. 1.05, adopted 11/21/16)
Public safety personnel may operate a golf cart on any public street, parking area and traffic way without any further restrictions when the golf cart is used in the performance of his/her duties or on official business of the city or on city-owned property and city-leased property, including but not limited to, a parade, a festival or other special events.
(Ordinance 2016-1107, sec. 1.06, adopted 11/21/16)
Any person, firm, entity or corporation who violates any provision of this article, as it exists or may be amended, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined a sum in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009. Each continuing day’s violation under this article shall constitute a separate offense. The penal provisions imposed under this article shall not preclude the city from filing suit to enjoin the violation. The city retains all legal rights and remedies available to it pursuant to local, state, and federal law.
(Ordinance 2016-1107, sec. 2, adopted 11/21/16; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)