Last year, the big topic of discussion in Two Rivers was a proposal to allow ATV and UTV usage on city streets.
Now, the City Council is discussing the golf cart regulations.
City Manager Greg Buckley tells us that the Council recently realized that the local regulations do not match state law in regard to where golf carts can and cannot be used.
“State law allows for local municipalities to let golf carts operate on streets with posted speed limits of 25 miles per hour or lower,” he explained. “Our ordinance reads 35 miles per hour or lower.”
Buckley admitted that change would not change a lot, as only a few streets in Two Rivers have a posted speed limit of 35 MPH.
However, local law has to mirror state law for things of this nature.
There is another aspect of the golf cart regulations that need to be addressed.
Buckley told us, “Council also wished to take a look at an effective way to require child safety restraints for children under 8 years old and under 80 pounds, consistent with what is required in regular motor vehicles.”
Buckley said that while most carts do not have seatbelts, there are after-market products available, but the City does not want to be put in a position where they have to judge the adequacy of those systems.
Greg Buckley
For those who are wondering why golf carts are allowed by ATVs and UTVs are not, the City Manager noted that state law categorizes them as different vehicles.
He noted that “Golf carts, as defined by the state, cannot be capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour.”
The proposed changes, including a better registration system, will be put into a proposed ordinance and brought back before the City Council during their February 6th meeting.
