Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Issues Release on New Golf Cart Law

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------On May 22nd of this year, a new law went into effect in South Carolina in regards to the operation of golf carts on streets or highways.  Due to the passage of the new legislation, and in order to keep our citizens informed, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is issuing this news release today with some basic highlights of the law.

“We have citizens in Oconee County who operate golf carts to travel short distances from their homes or use them to travel through their subdivisions,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  “We wanted to issue this release today in order to keep all of our citizens informed of the new law and remind everyone that golf carts may be in operation in certain areas.”

Below are some highlights in bullet points in relation to operations of a golf cart from the recently passes legislation:

·         To operate a vehicle commonly known as a golf cart on a public highway, the owner must obtain a permit decal and registration certificate from the Department of Motor Vehicles.  An individual or business owner may obtain a permit decal and registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles upon a presentation of proof of ownership and liability insurance by the owner.  A five dollar payment is also required.

·         During daylight hours only, a permitted golf cart may be operated within four miles of the address on the registration certificate, or within four miles of a point of ingress or egress to a gated community, and only on a secondary highway or street for which the posted speed limit is thirty-five miles per hour or less. 

·         Within four miles of the registration holder’s address, and while traveling along a secondary highway or street for which the posted speed limit is thirty-five miles an hour or less, a permitted golf cart may cross a highway or street at an intersection where the highway has a posted speed limit of more than thirty-five miles an hour.

·         A person who operates a golf cart in South Carolina must be at least 16 years of age, must hold a valid driver’s license and must have in their possession the registration certificate issued by the SCDMV, proof of liability insurance for the golf cart and their driver’s license if they are in operation of the golf cart on a highway or street.

·         Any passenger under the age of 12 years old must wear a seat belt.  

·         A golf cart permit must be replaced with a new permit every five years or at the time the permit holder changes his address. 

Sheriff Crenshaw says that counties and municipalities, along with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, can adopt local ordinances regarding the operation of golf carts, and other low speed vehicles, other than farm vehicles, in the interest of public safety should it arise.  Under the law, counties and municipalities can permit persons to operate a golf cart at night, such as on barrier islands.  However, golf carts that are operated at night are required to have working headlights and taillights.

Sheriff Crenshaw also says that the provisions of the law do not apply to golf carts being used by public safety agencies that coincide with their official duties.