Bill would OK golf carts on public roads in N.C.

A bill in the North Carolina General Assembly would allow golf carts on state roads in Currituck County without necessarily being "street-legal."

Some places in North Carolina and Virginia already allow golf carts on state roads as the demand for inexpensive transportation around resort communities grows. Golf carts also are credited with easing traffic problems and pollution from emissions.

If the bill passes, Currituck and New Hanover counties would be added to a state law that allows golf carts on streets in several resort communities, including Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and the Village of Pinehurst.

"It's an issue that has moved like a wave across the state," County Attorney Ike McRee said.

Last year at Board of Commissioners meetings, residents from Bells Island and Corolla pushed for Currituck to allow golf carts. They would not be allowed on roads with higher speed limits but could be used in the communities, said Owen Etheridge, chairman of the Currituck County Board of Commissioners.

Commissioners passed a resolution earlier this year to be added to the state law allowing golf carts on state roads, McRee said.

Typical golf carts have maximum speeds of 15 mph or less and do not have safety equipment such as brake lights and seat belts installed.

Golf carts would be legal on public roads if the bill passes, but commissioners would have authority to regulate use, such as requiring operators to have a North Carolina driver's license and restricting hours of operation.

"They're not making them street-legal but street-allowable," said Mark Thomas, owner of Marxcarts, a golf cart and low-speed vehicle shop in Moyock. "There's a difference."

Street-legal golf carts, classified as low-speed vehicles by federal law, are manufactured or modified to have safety features such as four-wheel brakes, an approved windshield, and larger motors that can take them speeds up to 25 mph. They must also have vehicle identification numbers and be registered with the state.

Electric golf carts do not give off emissions and are not noisy, prompting some officials to legalize them based largely on environmental concerns.

Cape Charles, Va., made golf carts legal on its streets six years ago, town planner Tom Bonadeo said. Some 100 people own golf carts and drive them around the six blocks-by- eight blocks town center, he said. Bonadeo uses a golf cart for town business.

The town grew quickly when a golf community was built. Traffic thickened downtown, and parking was nearly impossible to find near the beach, he said. The town adopted an ordinance legalizing golf carts and regulated their use.

With more people driving golf carts, finding a parking spot is much easier, Bonadeo said.

The public beach is six blocks long. Only five or six parking spaces are available per block, he said, but one car parking space can hold three golf carts.

"It's a great little thing."

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com