Golf carts and side-by-side utility vehicles would be allowed on some Pilot Point streets, with registration and safety rules, under an ordinance the City Council takes up Thursday, Oct. 22.
Council members told staff to move ahead with a combined golf cart and UTV ordinance after discussing the idea at their Sept. 24 and Oct. 8 meetings, according to the meeting packet. Police Chief Angela Mathews submitted the item, and the staff report lists no financial impact.
What drivers would need
Under the draft, Ordinance 661-18-2026, a golf cart or side-by-side could use a public street only where the speed limit is 35 mph or lower. The person behind the wheel would need a valid driver's license; a learner's permit would not count. Each vehicle would need:
- Headlamps, tail lamps and reflectors
- A parking brake and mirrors
- A slow-moving vehicle emblem
Owners would register their vehicles with the Police Department, showing proof of liability insurance, and pay a $25 annual fee for a windshield sticker. The fee would not be prorated or refunded. Required coverage is $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injuries to two or more and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Riders would have to stay seated, with no standing or riding on laps. Driving would be limited to daylight, except that carts could travel to and from city-permitted special events, including approved festivals on the Historic Downtown Square or at the Groff Park athletic fields, after dark.
