The Latest Chapter in LG’s (Increasingly Divisive) Golf Cart Saga

The La Grange City Council voted 4-3 Monday night to table a proposed ordinance allowing golf carts on city streets.

Police Chief David Gilbreath repeated his opposition to the ordinance that he raised at the last City Council meeting on Sept. 13. Council voted 4-3 at the Sept. 13 meeting to instruct City Manager Shawn Raborn to draft a golf cart ordinance. Raborn presented that ordinance at the meeting this Monday, Sept. 27.

The proposed ordinance would require golf carts to be equipped with headlights, taillights, brake lights, reflectors, a parking brake, slow moving vehicle emblem, state-issued license plate, mirrors and a horn. Gas-powered carts would need an exhaust system in good working condition.

Only licensed drivers would be allowed to drive a cart. Carts could only be driven during the daytime. They would only be allowed on streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less, and they would not be allowed on any highway, frontage road or other roadway maintained by TxDOT.

The proposed ordinance did not include any requirement for inspection or registration. Raborn said some cities require inspection and charge a registration fee, often $25 a year.

“It seems kind of bureaucratic, for $25, for us to check them out,” Raborn said.

Raborn said that if a police officer stopped a golf cart and found an equipment violation, the owner would have to fix the problem.

Gilbreath said he researched golf cart-related accidents and found more than a dozen cases of fatalities statewide. Gilbreath said golf carts are counted as motor vehicles in official crash reports, so he couldn’t find out the number of golf cart crashes.

Gilbreath said he polled neighboring police chiefs in Giddings, Bastrop, Columbus, Schulenburg and Smithville about golf carts in their cities.

“Giddings has the ordinance and their biggest complaint is kids riding around,” He said. “They give out citations, and if they’re too young, they take them back to the parents. Bastrop’s biggest complaint is people not registering.”

Councilman John “Honza” Cernosek asked whether golf carts would need insurance.

“I checked with several insurance agencies in town, and your homeowners insurance will not cover it if you’re (on) a city street.”

Councilman Dusty Littrell, the main proponent of the ordinance, said golf cart owners would need to buy a special policy to drive on streets, much like a motorcycle policy or a boat policy.

Gilbreath said the cities of Columbus and Schulenburg don’t have golf cart ordinances.

“They said they don’t want them,” Gilbreath said.

The City of Smithville has had a golf cart ordinance since 2017. Gilbreath said the police in Smithville reported no accidents but they have received occasional complaints about loud music and children driving carts.

Littrell said he spoke with a sergeant at the Smithville Police Department, who reported a “learning curve” when that city first allowed golf carts.

“People who were not licenced, parents letting their kids drive – as soon as they found out this is a motorized vehicle and they weren’t allowed to do that, the problem cleared up,” Littrell said.

“He also recommended doing the registration, because that’s how you know they are legal to be on the road, they have their lights and all that stuff,” Littrell added.

Littrell said the Smithville Chamber of Commerce supported the golf cart ordinance in their town.

“They said it has done nothing but promote business there,” he said. “They do poker runs, a shop local golf cart event, all kinds of events with golf carts. It has been nothing but a good thing for them.”

Councilman Quenten Gonzalez said he also supports the golf cart ordinance.

“The ordinance just allows people to use a golf cart if they choose, within the parameters of the law,” Gonzalez said.

“Texas already has this law on the books,” Gonzalez said. “We would just be looking at providing an ordinance to our city to give people the freedom to do this if they wish to.

“We already allow cars, motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds and other forms of transportation that could have an accident and could result in a death,” Gonzalez added. “We don’t take those away.”

“I don’t want to get into inviting that with golf carts,” Gilbreath said. “Golf carts were designed for golf courses. They weren’t designed for public streets.”

Littrell questioned Gilbreath on the safety of motorcycles and scooters versus golf carts.

“They’re not even in this conversation,” Gilbreath said.

Councilwoman Kathy Weishuhn said motorcycle drivers must obtain training and a special endorsement on their drivers license.

“There’s not (an endorsement) for a scooter 50 cc’s or lower or a bicycle,” Littrell said.

“I don’t see why we’re drawing a line at golf carts,” Littrell added. “I can get on a bicycle and ride to Walmart.”

“They’re not designed to be on city streets, they’re designed to be on a golf course, and that’s all I’m going to say,” Gilbreath said.

“You’re saying it’s not designed to be on the street, but the state says differently,” Littrell said. “The state says it is. You’re entitled to your opinion, but the state says it’s legal.”

“If we pass the ordinance,” Gilbreath said.

“Exactly,” Littrell said. “It looks like we still have some homework on this,” said Mayor Jan Dockery.

Councilman Chris Jernigan moved to table the ordinance.

“We need more research on this,” Jernigan said. “How is it going to affect the community? How is it going to affect law enforcement? The economics – how it will affect that if we do or we don’t.”

Littrell seconded the motion to table. Joining them in the vote was Gonzalez and Councilwoman Violet Zbranek. Councilmembers Katie Gross, Cernosek and Weishuhn voted against tabling the ordinance.