[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
Cal. Streets & Highway Code Chapter 6 authorizes the city to establish and adopt a golf cart transportation plan. The city establishes a golf cart transportation program, in conformance this authority that will provide a safe and convenient means of golf cart access to golf courses and neighboring uses within the city. This chapter will establish definitions, routes and crossings, equipment standards and requirements, golf cart operator requirements and safety criteria, permit requirements and procedures, and enforcement standards. This chapter shall be referenced as the city's "Golf Cart Transportation Plan." For the purposes of this chapter, words and phrases shall have the meanings listed in § 72.02.
[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
For purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY
The City of Indio.
GOLF CART
A motor vehicle having not less than three wheels in contact with the ground that is designed to be and is operated at not more than 25 miles per hour and carries golf equipment, food/beverages for golfers, and one or more people, including a driver, and can be utilized on a golf course for play, service to golfers or maintenance.
GOLF CART CIRCULATION PLAN
The plan presented by city staff concurrent with this chapter's approval or such plan as may supersede same by determination of the Planning Commission. The golf cart circulation plan shall be a public record maintained by the City Clerk.
GOLF CART FACILITY
All travel ways, as designated by and located in the city within public right-of-way, that provide for golf cart travel. There shall be three categories of golf cart facilities:
(1) 
Class I golf cart paths provide an area separate from the roadway used by automobile traffic for shared one-way or two-way use by golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians.
(2) 
Class II golf cart lanes provide a striped lane for one-way golf cart and bicycle travel on a street or highway.
(3) 
Class III golf cart routes provide for shared use with automobile and bicycle traffic. Class III facilities are established by placing golf cart route signs along roadways with speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less in order to link them to Class I or Class II facilities.
GOLF CART OPERATOR
Any person that operates a golf cart within public right-of-way per this chapter.
GOLF CLUB
A public or private golf course owned by an institutional golf cart operator and located in its entirety on private or city-owned property with the sole exception of city street crossings identified in § 72.06.
INSTITUTIONAL GOLF CART
A golf cart owned by an institutional golf cart operator and operated exclusively within a golf club.
INSTITUTIONAL GOLF CART OPERATOR
Any entity, e.g., a company, corporation, homeowners' association, management association, etc., that owns and allows usage of golf carts at a golf club by persons who are playing golf, and are:
(1) 
Members of the entity in question, or
(2) 
Residents or guests of residents of a community related to the entity in question, or
(3) 
Otherwise affiliated with, paying fees to, or in receipt of consent from the entity in question to do so.
[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
With the limited exception of institutional golf carts and golf carts using a crossing for golf clubs per § 72.06, all golf carts traveling on or over any golf cart facility must comply the following design criteria:
(A) 
Red reflectors;
(B) 
Parking brake;
(C) 
Horn;
(D) 
Headlights, brake lights, and rear lights;
(E) 
Front and rear turn signal indicator lights;
(F) 
Seat belts;
(G) 
Covered passenger compartment;
(H) 
Backup buzzer;
(I) 
Golf cart locking device;
(J) 
Mirror combination (left and right side mirrors, left and rear mirrors, or multi-directional cross bar mirror) and unobstructed view to the rear.
[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
All golf carts operating on or over any golf cart facility, must comply with the following safety criteria:
(A) 
A golf cart operator must be possess a valid California driver's license, a driver's license issued by another state, or other proof of legal authority to operate a motor vehicle in California;
(B) 
A golf cart operator must have insurance that complies with the financial responsibility requirements established pursuant to Cal. Vehicle Code Chapter 1, Division 7, §§ 16000 et seq.;
(C) 
Each golf cart must be maintained in a safe condition;
(D) 
In the case of an institutional golf cart, the party responsible to fulfill this duty to maintain the golf cart in question is the institutional golf cart operator, not an individual golf cart operator;
(E) 
Operation of a golf cart that does not meet the design criteria specified in § 72.03 is prohibited between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise at designated crossings;
(F) 
Golf cart operators must yield the right-of-way to automobiles, pedestrians and bicyclists;
(G) 
Golf cart operators may only travel on a designated golf cart facility, a golf club crossing conforming to § 72.06, or a public street with a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less; and
(H) 
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each golf cart operated in the city shall comply with the design criteria required by § 72.03 and be properly permitted as required by § 72.05.
[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
With the limited exceptions of institutional golf carts and golf carts using a crossing for golf clubs per § 72.06, said golf carts requiring no permit, the following permit rules are established:
(A) 
No golf cart shall be driven within the city without a current golf cart permit decal visibly displayed on the right rear fender of the golf cart.
(B) 
The golf cart permit shall be valid for two years from the date of issuance.
(C) 
A golf cart permit fee shall be established and may be modified by City Council resolution.
(D) 
Golf cart permit fees shall be payable by any golf cart operator who proposes to drive a golf cart within the city.
[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
The golf cart circulation plan shall identify city streets that may be crossed by institutional golf carts being used to play golf at a golf club. Each such crossing for a golf club shall incorporate design criteria as required by the Public Works Director.
[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
The city is adopting this chapter concurrent with its approval of a non-codified Golf Cart Transportation Program. The Program approved may be amended from time to time by the Planning Commission of the City of Indio. The current Golf Cart Transportation Program shall be maintained as a public record by the City Clerk.
[Ord. 1583, 12-15-2010]
Any person operating or driving a golf cart in the city in violation of this chapter is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding $100. Within the discretion of the City Prosecutor, a second violation of this chapter occurring on a date subsequent to any initial violation shall be punishable as an infraction with a fine not exceeding $250. Within the discretion of the City Prosecutor, a third violation of this chapter occurring on a date subsequent to any second violation shall be punishable as either an infraction with a fine not exceeding $500 or as a misdemeanor.