6.9Improper Operation of a Golf Cart
Where operation of a golf cart on the streets of a village, city, or township is allowed under MCL 257.657a(1), the following apply:
“(5) A person shall not operate a golf cart on any street unless he or she is at least 16 years old and is licensed to operate a motor vehicle.
(6) The operator of a golf cart shall comply with the signal requirements of [MCL 257.6483] that apply to the operation of a vehicle.
(7) A person operating a golf cart upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(8) Except as otherwise provided in [MCL 257.657a(9)],4 a person shall not operate a golf cart on a state trunk line highway. This subsection does not prohibit a person from crossing a state trunk line highway when operating a golf cart on a street of a village, city, or township, using the most direct line of crossing.
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(12) Where a usable and designated path for golf carts is provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person operating a golf cart may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path.
(13) A person operating a golf cart shall not pass between lines of traffic, but may pass on the left of traffic moving in his or her direction in the case of a 2-way street or on the left or right of traffic in the case of a 1-way street, in an unoccupied lane.
(14) A golf cart shall not be operated on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians.
(15) A golf cart shall be operated at a speed not to exceed 15 miles per hour and shall not be operated on a state trunk line highway or a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 30 miles per hour except to cross that state trunk line highway or highway or street. A village, city, or township may, by resolution, designate roads or classifications of roads for use by golf carts under this subsection.
(16) A golf cart shall not be operated on a state trunk line highway or the streets of a city, village, or township during the time period from 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour after sunrise.”
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(18) A person operating a golf cart on a state trunk line highway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable.” MCL 257.657a(12)-(16), and MCL 257.657a(18)MCL 257.657a(5)-(8), .
MCL 257.901(2) provides for:
•imprisonment for not more than 90 days; or
•fine of not more than $100; or
•both.
Golf cart operators and passengers are not required to wear a crash helmet. MCL 257.657a(17).
MCL 257.657a “does not apply to a police officer in the performance of his or her official duties.” MCL 257.657a(19).
Golf carts operated under MCL 257.657a are not required to be registered under the MVC for purposes of MCL 500.3101. MCL 257.657a(20). However, a local unit of government may require registration. See generally MCL 257.657a(21), which states:
“A village, city, or township may require a golf cart registered within its jurisdiction to meet any or all of the following vehicle safety requirements of a low-speed vehicle for approval under [MCL 257.657a]:
(a) At least 2 headlamps that comply with [MCL 257.685].
(b) At least 1 tail lamp that complies with [MCL 257.686].
(c) At least 1 stop lamp and 1 lamp or mechanical signal device that comply with [MCL 257.697 and MCL 257.697b].
(d) At least 1 red reflector on each side of the golf cart as far to the rear as practicable and 1 red reflector on the rear of the golf cart as required for low-speed vehicles by 49 CFR 571.500.
(e) One exterior mirror mounted on the driver’s side of the golf cart and either 1 exterior mirror mounted on the passenger side of the golf cart or 1 interior mirror as required for low-speed vehicles by 49 CFR 571.500.
(f) Brakes and a parking brake that comply with [MCL 257.704].
(g) A horn that complies with [MCL 257.706].
(h) A windshield that complies with [MCL 257.708a].
(i) A manufacturer’s identification number permanently affixed to the frame of the golf cart.
(j) Safety belts that comply with [MCL 257.710a] and that are used as required by [MCL 257.710e].
(k) The crash helmet requirements applicable to low-speed vehicles under [MCL 257.658b].” MCL 257.657a(21).
3.For more information on MCL 257.648, see Section 4.16.
4.MCL 257.657a(9) authorizes local units of government to adopt an ordinance allowing the operation of golf carts on a state trunk line highway if the state transportation has granted a request for such use.