HB-4945, As Passed House, November 9, 2017

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 4945

A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled

"Michigan vehicle code,"

by amending section 657a (MCL 257.657a), as added by 2014 PA 491.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 657a. (1) A village or city having a population of fewer

than 30,000 individuals based upon the 2010 decennial census may by

resolution allow the operation of golf carts on the streets of that

village or city, subject to the requirements of this section. A

township having a population of fewer than 30,000 individuals based

upon the 2010 decennial census may by resolution, unless

disapproved by the county board of commissioners under subsection

(3), allow the operation of golf carts on the streets of that

township, subject to the requirements of this section.

(2) If a village, city, or township allows the operation of

golf carts on the streets of that village, city, or township, that

village, city, or township may require those golf carts and the

operators of those golf carts to be recorded on a list maintained

by that village, city, or township. A village, city, or township

shall not charge a fee for listing golf carts or the operators of

those golf carts.

(3) A county board of commissioners may, by resolution,

disapprove the operation of golf carts on the streets of a township

located within that county if the county board of commissioners

conducts a hearing and determines that 1 or more of the following

apply:

(a) The operation of golf carts on the streets of that

township would cause significant environmental damage.

(b) The operation of golf carts on the streets of that

township would cause a significant concern of public safety.

(4) The county board of commissioners shall provide public

notice of a hearing under subsection (3) at least 45 days before

the hearing is conducted. The county board of commissioners shall

also provide written notice of a hearing under subsection (3) to

the township at least 45 days before the hearing is conducted.

(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 section 648 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 ~~one~~ a vehicle

proceeding in the same direction.

(8) A Except as otherwise provided in subsection (9), 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.

(9) The legislative body of a local unit of government may

request the state transportation department to authorize the local

unit of government to adopt an ordinance authorizing the operation

of golf carts on a state trunk line highway, other than an

interstate highway, located within the local unit of government.

The request shall describe how the authorization would meet the

requirements of subsection (10). The state transportation

department shall solicit comment on the request from the local

units of government where the state trunk line highway is located.

The state transportation department shall consider comments

received on the request before making a decision on the request.

The state transportation department shall grant the request in

whole or in part or deny the request not more than 60 days after

the request is received. If the state transportation department

grants a request in whole or in part under this subsection, the

local unit of government that submitted the request may adopt an

ordinance authorizing the operation of golf carts on the state

trunk line highway that was the subject of the request. A county

may submit a request for authorization under this subsection on

behalf of 1 or more local units of government located within that

county if requested by those local units of government.

(10) The state transportation department shall authorize

operation of a golf cart under subsection (9) only on a state trunk

line highway that is not an interstate highway within a local unit

of government that has already adopted an ordinance under

subsection (1), that serves as a connector between portions of the

local unit of government that only connect through the state trunk

line highway, and that meets 1 or more of the following

requirements:

(a) Provides access to tourist attractions, food service

establishments, fuel, motels, or other services.

(b) Serves as a connector between 2 segments of the same

county road that run along discontinuous town lines.

cross a river, stream, wetland, or gully that is not crossed by a

street or county road on which golf carts are authorized to operate

under an ordinance adopted as provided in subsection (1).

(11) The state transportation department may permanently or

temporarily close a state trunk line highway to the operation of

golf carts otherwise authorized under subsection (9) after written

notice to the clerk of the local unit of government that requested

the authorization under subsection (9). The notice shall be in

writing and sent by first-class United States mail or personally

delivered not less than 30 days before the adoption of the rule or

order closing the state trunk line highway. The notice shall set

forth specific reasons for the closure. The state transportation

department is not required to develop a plan for an alternate route

for a state trunk line highway that it has temporarily closed to

the operation of golf carts.

(12) ~~(9)~~ 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) ~~(10)~~ 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) ~~(11)~~ A golf cart shall not be operated on a sidewalk

constructed for the use of pedestrians.

(15) ~~(12)~~ 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) ~~(13)~~ 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.

(17) ~~(14)~~ A person operating a golf cart or who is a passenger

in a golf cart is not required to wear a crash helmet.

(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.

(19) ~~(15)~~ This section does not apply to a police officer in

the performance of his or her official duties.

(20) ~~(16)~~ A golf cart operated on a street of a village, city,

or township under this section is not required to be registered

under this act for purposes of section 3101 of the insurance code

of 1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101.

(21) ~~(17)~~ As used in this section, "golf cart" means a vehicle

designed for transportation while playing the game of golf. A golf

cart is not required to meet the vehicle safety requirements of a

low-speed vehicle for approval under this section.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

after the date it is enacted into law.