«I`m heartbroken because it`s personal. It was something personal to us because Selena is personal to us. The golf cart is personal to us,» Cope said. «The stickers, the awareness were for us personally. So yes, we were heartbroken. Coring held his breath as they approached the intersection. The golf cart stopped; Skateboarding doesn`t. Fortunately, everyone was safe and sound. Coring is not alone.
Throughout Brunswick County, beach towns are experiencing an increase in violations. Sunset Beach Police Chief Kenneth Klamar noted that in addition to tourists who may not be familiar with the rules, one of the issues behind the increase in infractions is the volume of golf carts on the roads during the summer months. If you`re buying a golf cart or slow motion vehicle (LSV) and live in the state of North Carolina, you may need to familiarize yourself with the specific laws governing driving. Here`s an overview according to North Carolina`s golf cart laws: If you`re leaving on the last day, make sure the charger and extension cord are nearby and the cart is LOCKED. For the past two years, Cope has been the primary caregiver for her 5-year-old granddaughter, Selena, who has autism. Selena is shy, but one thing she loves is riding in her special golf cart, which is heavily decorated with stickers to raise awareness about autism. Cope says a daily golf cart ride to Yaupon Fishing Pier to get a pacifier has become a therapeutic routine for the whole family and especially for Selena as a relief from the daily rigors of living a life with autism. Oak Island police no longer allow golf carts to be used on city streets or sidewalks, even for medically disabled drivers who otherwise cannot drive. Like a golf cart, drivers under the influence of alcohol must refrain from operating LSV and there must be no open containers in any of these vehicles. According to City Manager Steve Foster, the police department only issues warnings if it catches people riding golf carts that are not «street legal.» In the past, owners of golf carts with signs for people with disabilities could ride with a passenger on or off the road in Oak Island.
However, according to DMV rules, golf carts must meet a list of requirements to be «street legal.» Now, IOPD officials are stepping up enforcement, much to the dismay of several golf cart owners in the city. Clarissa Cope is one of many people who have contacted Facebook with their thoughts and complaints. North Carolina`s general statute defines a golf cart as «a vehicle designed and manufactured to operate on a golf course for sports or recreational purposes and capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.» A low-speed vehicle, or LSV as it is often called, is covered by North Carolina`s General Statutes, which define it as «a four-wheeled electric vehicle with a maximum speed greater than 20 miles per hour but less than 25 miles per hour.» However, Cope recently learned that his family`s preferred «lane» will no longer be allowed in the city. Starting Aug. 1, the Oak Island Police Department announced it would enforce a series of state laws governing the use of golf carts on roads and sidewalks. Cope says she`ll follow the rules, but that means she`ll be forced to sell the family car because the cost of upgrading the required equipment is too high. The purpose of this Regulation is to establish guidelines in the interest of public security. Golf cart below: A valid driver`s license is required to drive the car. LSVs generally have different uses than golf carts, as well as other functions. The list of safety features LSVs must have is provided below, and since LSVs are capable of exceeding speeds of more than 20 miles per hour, they are considered equivalent to motor vehicles, unlike golf carts.
For this reason, LSVs are DMV and DOT approved and golf carts are not. A golf cart, driven by a minor driver, crossed the streets, pulling a teenager onto a skateboard and holding a dog on a leash. Driving golf carts and vehicles at low speeds can provide great comfort in many ways, especially when working or transporting other people in a specialized field. It`s important to know the differences between the two, and as long as drivers are properly licensed and insured, these vehicles can provide entertainment and transportation in situations where a regular vehicle may not be available or practical. Here are five things you need to know if you`re planning to drive a golf cart in the seaside towns of Brunswick. Coring also reported that Southport is stepping up its enforcement efforts and hosting golf cart registration events to ensure golf carts have the necessary safety equipment and are registered with the city. He said the goal is to ensure everyone`s safety. Driving a golf cart means respecting traffic rules by stopping at stop signs and traffic lights. Golf cart drivers should also be aware that even though golf carts are smaller than most traditional vehicles, they should still be parked in traditional parking lots. Officials also point out that golf carts are treated the same as motor vehicles when driving drunk, and drunk drivers are charged with impaired driving. While some cities allow 16-year-olds to drive golf carts, others, such as Southport, require drivers to be at least 18 years old.
On Bald Head Island, golf carts are the primary mode of transportation and are allowed, but at Sunset Beach it`s a little different. Klamar explained that while they don`t allow traditional golf carts, they do allow low-speed vehicles (LSVs), as described in North Carolina General Law 20-121.1. Like Bald Head Island, the City of Southport allows golf carts, but they must be registered with the city annually. The rules state, in part, that every vehicle has the right tires, mirrors, turn signals, and almost everything a car needs to be considered «road legal.» The owner must also obtain a license, registration and insurance. To make things even more difficult, gasoline carts like Cope`s are not allowed. Only electric trolleys pass the test. Although it is not a car, a golf cart still poses a significant risk of injury. While Coring took a minute to joke with the boy about his incredible balance and coordination, he also informed the kids about the city`s slow-moving vehicle ordinance, which requires golf cart drivers to be at least 18 years old. Since a golf cart operates on North Carolina roads, although it can only be legally driven on roads with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less, the same laws apply when it comes to alcohol. Golf cart drivers could be charged with impaired driving, driving with open containers or other alcohol-related offences. Golf carts typically have a top speed of 15 or 20 miles per hour, while LSVs travel at least 20 miles per hour and sometimes as fast as 35 miles per hour or more. Another difference between the two is that LSVs must have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
«We welcome golf carts,» he said. «We just want people to be safe on the streets.» First of all, not everyone is aware of the difference between a golf cart and a low-speed vehicle (LSV). There are two different ways to distinguish between the two, and one is about speed. Like golf carts, LSV drivers must be 16 years of age and have a valid driver`s license. To legally use an LSV on North Carolina roads, the vehicle must be equipped with: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to regulating golf carts, and cities are not required to allow them.