By Betsy Finklea
Chief James McDaniel of the Lake View Police Department is reminding the public of the laws that pertain to golf carts. He said these laws will be strictly enforced in the Town of Lake View. The statute says:
TITLE 56-MOTOR
VEHICLES- CHAPTER 2.
SPECIALIZED
VEHICLES
ARTICLE 1.
LOW SPEED VEHICLES
SECTION 56-2-100. Conditions for operation on street or highway.
(A) A low speed vehicle may be operated only on a secondary highway for which the posted speed limit is thirty-five miles an hour or less.
(B) A low speed vehicle may cross a highway at an intersection where the highway has a posted speed limit of more than thirty-five miles an hour.
(C) A low speed vehicle must meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (Part 49 Section 571.500 of the Code of Federal Regulations) at all times when operated on any highway. A low speed vehicle that complies with the equipment requirements in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500 complies with all equipment requirements of this title.
(D) Nothing in this section prevents local governments from adopting more stringent local ordinances governing low speed vehicle operation.
(E) A county or municipality may prohibit the operation of low speed vehicles on any street or highway if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.
(F) The Department of Transportation may prohibit the operation of low speed vehicles on any street or highway if it determines that the prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety.
(G) A farm vehicle, as defined in Section 56-1-2070(C)(2), is not a low speed vehicle for the purposes of this article.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 170, Section 2, eff 6 months after approval by the Governor (approved June 7, 2005).
SECTION 56-2-110. Driver’s license and
registration card.
A person operating a low speed vehicle must be at least sixteen years of age and shall hold a valid driver’s license. The operator of a low speed vehicle being operated on a highway must have in his possession:
(1) the registration card issued by the department or the registration card issued by the state in which the low speed vehicle is registered; and
(2) his driver’s license.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 170, Section 2, eff 6 months after approval by the Governor (approved June 7, 2005).
SECTION 56-2-120. Title requirement; title applications by nonresidents; license plates.
(A) A low speed vehicle must be titled as specified in this title. The manufacturer’s or importer’s certificate of origin must identify clearly the vehicle as a low speed vehicle and must certify that the vehicle was manufactured in compliance with the equipment requirements for low speed vehicles in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500. The State shall not issue vehicle identification numbers to homemade low speed vehicles, retrofitted golf carts, or any other similar vehicles, and these vehicles shall not qualify as low speed vehicles in this State.
(B) If the vehicle is owned by a nonresident, but is subject to issuance of a certificate of title in this State, the application must also contain his:
(1) full legal name, social security number, or, if the primary user does not have a social security number but has a passport, his passport number;
(2) driver’s license number, whether the license was issued by this State or another jurisdiction;
(3) date of birth;
(4) bona fide principal residence address;
(5) address in this State where the low speed vehicle will be housed and used; and
(6) mailing address of the primary user of the vehicle. If the primary user is a firm, association, or corporation, the application must contain the business address and federal employer identification number of the primary user.
(C) A low speed vehicle must be registered and licensed in the same fashion as passenger vehicles pursuant to this title and is subject to the same insurance requirements applicable to other motor vehicles under this title.
(D) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall establish a special size and class of license plate for low speed vehicles that clearly identifies the vehicle as a low speed vehicle.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 170, Section 2, eff 6 months after approval by the Governor (approved June 7, 2005).
SECTION 56-2-130.
Dealer licensing.
A person engaged in the wholesale or retail sale of low speed vehicles must comply with the motor vehicle dealer licensing laws of this State as specified in this title.
HISTORY: 2005 Act No. 170, Section 2, eff 6 months after approval by the Governor (approved June 7, 2005).
ARTICLE 2.
MOTOR VEHICLE
REGISTRATION AND PROPERTY TAX
SECTION 56-2-2740. Refusal to renew license and registration for non-payment of property tax; biennial plates; validation and revalidation decals; fees.
(A) The Department of Motor Vehicles must refuse to renew the driver’s license and motor vehicle registration of a person who has not paid personal property taxes within the time limits prescribed in this chapter. A county treasurer or municipal clerk treasurer must forward notification to the department of persons violating the provisions of this chapter. Notification of individuals violating this chapter must be forwarded to the department in the time and manner determined by the department for the proper administration of this section.
(B) The department shall issue biennial license plates and revalidation decals. The department may enter into contracts with persons, corporations, or governmental subdivisions to issue license plates and revalidation decals. The department, person, corporation, or governmental subdivision shall give a motor vehicle owner a license plate or revalidation decal for the tax year for which personal property taxes and biennial fees have been paid pursuant to Section 56-3-253.
(C) All validation decals must be issued for a period not to exceed twelve months.
(D) A person or corporation that issues license plates or revalidation decals pursuant to this section may charge a fee in excess of the fee charged by the department.
(E) A governmental subdivision that issues license plates or revalidation decals pursuant to this section may charge a one-dollar fee to defray the expenses associated with the issuance of license plates and revalidation decals.
(F) The department shall supervise the provision of services contained in this section.
HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 459, Section 129; 1997 Act No. 40, Section 1; 2003 Act No. 51, Section 15.
Also:
SECTION 56-3-115. Golf carts; permit to operate on highways and streets. [SC ST SEC 56-3-115]
The owner of a vehicle commonly known as a golf cart, if he has a valid driver’s license, may obtain a permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles upon the payment of a fee of five dollars and proof of financial responsibility which permits his agent, employees, or him to:
(1) operate the golf cart on a secondary highway or street within two miles of his residence or place of business during daylight hours only; and
(2) cross a primary highway or street while traveling along a secondary highway or street within two miles of his residence or place of business during daylight hours only.