ORDINANCE
NO. 782
AN
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ESTABLISHING
THE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
GOLF
CART TRANSPORTATION PLAN
The Board of Supervisors of
the County of Riverside, State of California, ordains as follows:
Section 1. PURPOSE. This ordinance is intended to establish a golf cart
transportation program within the County of Riverside. The Streets and Highways
Code of the State of California authorizes the County of Riverside to develop a
golf cart transportation plan that extends the use of golf carts for
transportation beyond access to golf courses. It is the further intent of the
state to accommodate the functional travel needs of certain residents of the
plan area, provided the County establish golf cart lanes, minimum golf cart standards,
operation requirements and permit procedures.
Section 2. FINDINGS. The Board of Supervisors finds and determines that:
(a) The
utilization of golf carts will reduce automobile trips and vehicular emissions,
thus promoting improved air quality.
(b) Establishment
of a golf cart transportation plan will serve to expand mobility to those
persons not utilizing automobiles.
(c) The selected golf cart routes maximize the
utilization of golf carts for golf course transportation, residential
transportation, commercial/office transportation, and public/institutional
transportation within the Plan area.
(d) The selected routes accommodate golf carts
without an adverse impact upon traffic safety.
Section 3. AUTHORITY. This
ordinance is established pursuant to California Streets and Highways Code
Sections 1950-1967. The Golf Cart Transportation Plan may be amended to
designate specific plan areas by Resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
Section 4. DEFINITIONS. The
following definitions apply to this ordinance:
(a) APlan area@ means that territory under the jurisdiction of the County
designated for a golf cart transportation plan, including the privately owned
area of any owner that consents to its inclusion on the plan.
(b) AGolf cart@ means a motor vehicle having not less than three wheels in
contact with the ground and unladen weight less than 1,300 pounds which is
designed to be and is operated at not more than 25 miles per hour and is
designated to carry golf equipment and not more than two persons, including the
driver.
(c) AGolf cart lanes@ means all publicly owned facilities that provide for
golf cart travel including roadways designated by signs or permanent markings
which are shared with pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists in the Plan
area.
Section 5. GOLF
CART DESIGN CRITERIA. Minimum golf cart design
criteria for operation on golf cart lanes are hereby established. The following
elements are minimum design and equipment requirements:
(a) The
golf cart must be the shape and size that conforms to the industry standards
for manufactured golf carts.
(b) The
golf cart must have a covered passenger compartment.
(c) The golf cart must be equipped and safely
operated with:
(1) seat
belts for driver and passenger
(2) either
an unobstructed rear-view mirror and left side mirror, right and left view
mirrors, or a wide angle cross bar rear mirror.
(3) a
windshield
(4) reflectors
that conform to California Vehicle Code Section 24607
Section 6. GOLF
CART OPERATOR SAFETY CRITERIA. Minimum golf cart operator
safety criteria for golf cart use on golf cart lanes have been established by
the State of California. The following safety criteria for operators are set
and adopted by the Board of Supervisors:
(a) A
golf cart operator must have a valid driver=s license issued by the State of California or a recognized
foreign jurisdiction in accordance with Vehicle Code Sections 12502-12505.
(b) If
physically disabled, a golf cart operator may be permitted to operate a golf
cart in accordance with Vehicle Code Section 21114.5.
(c) Operators
must show proof of financial responsibility established pursuant to Streets and
Highways Code Section 16000, et seq.
Section 7. GOLF
CART PERMIT PROCESS. The provisions of Sections 5
and 6 shall be administered and enforced by the Director of Transportation, his
staff or designees through the issuance of a golf cart permit.
Section 8. GOLF
CART OPERATION RESTRICTIONS. The following
restrictions limiting the operation of golf carts shall apply:
(a) Only
those golf carts that have been retrofitted with the safety equipment specified
in the Plan may be operated under the provisions of the Golf Cart
Transportation Plan.
(b) Golf
cart operation is limited to those golf cart lanes identified in the Golf Cart
Transportation Plan and those streets within the Plan Area that have a prima
facie speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less.
(c) Only
those golf carts having a County golf cart permit may be operated in accordance
with the Golf Cart Transportation Plan.
(d) Golf
cart operators may only operate golf carts on public streets between one-half
hour after sunrise and one-half hour prior to sunset.
(e) A
golf cart operator must maintain his golf cart in a safe condition.
Section 9. VIOLATION. Any
person operating a golf cart in the Plan area in violation of this Ordinance is
guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.
Section 10. EFFECTIVE
DATE. This ordinance will take effect 30 days
after its adoption.
Adopted: 12/1/98 (3.28) (Eff: 12/31/98)