Fort Mill, Tega Cay debate SC golf cart rules after McMaster signs new law
South Carolina golf cart drivers should buckle up for new regulations about who’s allowed behind the wheel, where they can drive and what times they can be on the road.
A law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster on May 22 established statewide guardrails for golf carts and gave municipalities the power to tweak local rules.
Passengers under 12 now have to wear seat belts on public roads, and drivers must be at least 16 years old to operate the recreational vehicles. Drivers must register their golf carts with the Department of Motor Vehicles and carry their license, registration and proof of insurance while driving.
York County communities are already responding to the change. Fort Mill and Tega Cay held council meetings this week to determine what the law will mean for their residents.
The legislation comes on the heels of a fatal golf cart crash in Rock Hill last summer that claimed the life of 15-year-old Marlie Sullivan.
Fort Mill keeps state law for now
Cities, towns and counties can determine the “hours, methods, and locations” golf carts can operate within their boundaries, according to the law.
Unless a municipality enacts its own golf cart ordinance, state law requires the following default regulations:
- Golf cart use is only permitted during daylight hours.
- They may only be driven on secondary routes where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
- Drivers must stay within 4 miles of the address their cart is registered. If that address is a gated community, then they must stay within 4 miles of the community’s entrance.
- Golf carts may only cross highways with speeds above 35 miles per hour at an intersection.
Fort Mill Town Council on Monday elected not to stray from the state law. The council will review the law in six months to a year to see if any modifications are necessary.
Police Chief Bryan Zachary told council the law was sufficient as written and addressed his department’s primary concerns with golf cart operations.
“The way that the law is written is very beneficial for us and for the town,” Zachary said. “I think the restriction on them driving after dark is, for us, it’s the most important thing because it just magnifies the opportunity for there to be some type of incident.”
Fort Mill police won’t immediately enforce the law even though it’s already in effect, Zachary said. Police will give residents a period of time to make necessary adjustments, including registering carts or installing seat belts, before they start writing citations.
For now, violators in Fort Mill will receive a warning.
Tega Cay night golf cart drives
Tega Cay City Council took a different route from Fort Mill.
The city on Monday unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance that would allow golf carts to operate at all hours of the day, including after dark. Carts must have functioning headlights and taillights and be used only on roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less.
Tega Cay would be the first city in the state to allow golf carts to drive at night once council passes the second reading on June 23, according to former mayor and state Rep. David O’Neal.
O’Neal told the council on Monday this law was a decade in the making. Multiple state leaders, including himself, introduced unsuccessful bills attempting to tighten up golf cart safety laws and provide for late-night drives.
How to register your golf cart in South Carolina
For just a mere $5 for first-time registration, filling out a golf cart registration application requires a few quick steps.
When registering a golf cart, a valid driver’s license number is required.
Information such as vehicle, make, model, insurance company and identification number are all required, as well as providing the owner’s home address. Application papers can be found on the SCDMV website under ‘Golf Cart.’
Once the golf permit is received, it must be renewed every five years or if there is a change in the owner’s address. The price of a renewal registration is also $5. Additionally, there is a $1 fee if owners need a replacement permit registration or a duplicate.
News intern Sofia DiStefano contributed to this story.
