The McKinney City Council made a change to city ordinances on Nov. 19, giving the green light for golf carts to drive on city streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less.
New Rules And Regulations
Residents are now free to hop in their golf carts and cruise city streets for any reason, as long as the roads meet the speed limit requirement.
“Our goal is that the ordinance provides the structure for golf cart use in the city to keep drivers and pedestrians safe,” McKinney Mayor George Fuller told Local Profile.
The new rules state the following:
- Golf cart drivers are required to hold a valid driver's license
- Drivers must adhere to the same traffic laws as other vehicles: obeying regulatory signs and using either directional or hand signals when turning or stopping
- Drivers must remain on roads with speed limits 35mph or under
“Allowing golf carts on roads will help address safety concerns and ensure rules are implemented more clearly and effectively across city streets,” Mayor Fuller added.
Previous Ordinances
Prior to Tuesday’s decision, golf carts were permitted on public roadways only in two specific situations. First, it could be operated within master-planned communities, such as Stonebridge Ranch, Eldorado, Craig Ranch and Custer West, in accordance with community regulations.
Alternatively, golf carts can be driven on streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less, but only during daylight hours and exclusively for traveling to and from a golf course within a five-mile radius of where the golf cart is kept, typically the owner's residence.
How Fast Do Golf Carts Go
The average golf cart typically reaches speeds of 12 to 14 miles per hour, though its top speed can vary based on the cart type, battery and terrain. While it’s unlikely unmodded golf carts reach a high enough speed, you can still get a speeding ticket if exceeding posted speed limits.
Do You Need Insurance
In Texas, golf cart insurance rules vary depending on where the cart is driven and how it's used. Golf cart owners must have liability insurance if they drive on city streets with a speed limit of 35mph or less. Owners are not required to have insurance if they drive exclusively on private property.
“The city council, after hearing input from the community and conferring with our police department, determined that residents in downtown McKinney should have the opportunity to operate golf carts on city streets with lower speed limits,” McKinney City Manager Paul Grimes told Local Profile. “State law allows for communities to make these types of local decisions, and operators of these golf carts will have certain safety and licensing requirements to ensure safe operation on designated public streets.”
What About Other Collin County Cities
Other cities in Collin County currently follow the previous ordinances McKinney had in place. The carts must only be driven in master planned communities and can be driven on streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less, exclusively for traveling to and from a golf course within a five-mile radius of where the golf cart is kept, typically the owner's residence.
But, Frisco’s rules also vary. According to city engineers, a person, other than public safety personnel, may operate a golf cart on a public street if:
- The maximum speed limit on the public street is 35 miles per hour or less
- The driver has a valid driver’s license
- The driver maintains current financial responsibility for the golf cart, as required of other passenger vehicles
- The golf cart has all proper vehicle equipment
- The person complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws and ordinances.
- While the golf cart is in motion, the driver and every passenger in a golf cart are seated in a seat designed to hold passengers
Enforcement
The McKinney Police Department may issue a traffic citation against any person the officer has probable cause to believe has violated these or other regulations, whether the offending person is a juvenile or adult. And yes, you can get a DUI while on a golf cart.
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