KERROBERT — SGI released information May 13 updating a policy that would allow people to drive golf carts on certain municipal roads, if their municipality passed a bylaw that would be subject to certain limitations and SGI approval. Press-Herald area town councils were put to work adapting bylaws or guidelines suitable to their communities.
The Town of Kerrobert passed a Golf Cart Bylaw July 19, approved by SGI Aug. 3. The bylaw defines a golf cart as one that carries golfers and equipment, no more than three persons and cannot exceed 24 km/h, weight less than 590 kilograms, not including the weight of passengers and equipment, and is not defined as an all-terrain vehicle.
The new bylaw, available on the town’s website, states it is lawful to operate a golf cart during the daylight hours one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset on all roadways within town limits, and must not be on any provincial highway, other than to cross one and will not exceed posted speed of 50 km/h.
Kerrobert’s bylaw also says golf carts shall display a slow-moving warning sign at the rear and no person shall operate a golf cart on their roadways in town limits without a valid driver’s licence.
Fines are listed for failure to adhere to any parts of this bylaw.
“Most of the bylaw points are what SGI had set out for rules and regulations for the operation of golf carts on town streets,” says Tara Neumeier, chief administrative officer for the Town of Kerrober.
“It is important that they display a slow-moving warning sign at the rear of the cart and that there is $200,000 in liability insurance.
“I spoke with the RCMP sergeant before we passed the bylaw to get clarification on enforcement. What he was able to find out for me was that if the town has a bylaw in place and the offence is minor, for example cart doesn’t have the slow-moving sign, or can’t produce proof of liability insurance, or on a prohibited road then that is up to the town and their bylaw officer to enforce.”
The town also notes that if the infractions are of a more serious nature and fall under the Traffic Safety Act or criminal code, that is what the RCMP will enforce. So, drinking and driving, underage operators, driving through yield signs and others will be part of that jurisdiction.
Luseland passed a golf cart bylaw Aug. 14. and can be viewed on the town’s website.
The bylaw states that it is lawful to operate a golf cart during daylight hours between sunrise and sunset on all roadways within the town limits.
In a similar fashion to Kerrobert’s bylaw, there must be a slow-moving warning sign near the rear of the golf cart and no one without a valid driver’s licence is permitted to drive one, as well as drivers must carry a minimum of $200,000 in third-party liability insurance and must be able to show proof of insurance at the request of an officer. Fines will be levied for non-compliance.
“The Town of Macklin has had no discussion about implementing a bylaw,” says Macklin CAO Kim Gartner.
The Press-Herald has not yet had a response from Unity or Wilkie in regard to their town’s approach to golf carts. Residents are encouraged to contact their community’s town office for clarification on the rules, regulations and bylaws.
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