By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council discussed a “low-speed vehicle” ordinance during the workshop on Tuesday, September 14.
The ordinance provides for the regulation and use of golf carts, street carts, and other low-speed vehicles on certain streets within the City of Trussville corporate limits.
“We have two issues in Trussville that we’ve been facing for the last couple of years,” Sergeant Chuck Bradford said. “One, there are legal, low-speed vehicles, and legal modified golf cars that are just like the low-speed vehicles that a lot of residents have, and they also have a tag issued to them while they’re traveling in the streets of Trussville. The second issue we have is illegal golf carts that are not DOT certified or street legal and also traveling the streets of Trussville.”
According to the ordinance presented during the workshop, golf carts and other non-standard motorized vehicles have dramatically increased in recent years. Golf carts are generally prohibited from being used on any public street.
The health, safety, and welfare of its citizens require the City of Trussville to provide for regulations of golf carts on and about city streets within the corporate limits of the City, and under § 11-47-1 of the Code of Alabama (1975), the City is authorized to pass ordinances to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens.
Bradford explained that the ordinance defines two types of vehicles.
The first is the “Low-Speed Vehicle,” a four-wheeled motor vehicle with a speed of between 20 and 25 miles per hour. The second is the “Golf Cart,” which means any vehicle that is self-propelled and not certified by the manufacturer for use on streets and highways that is not already defined in § 32-1-1.1 of the Code of Alabama (1975), as amended.
The ordinance also lists the “City Street,” which is any public street that is maintained by Trussville, the speed limit of which is set at 25 miles per hour or less.
“There are two types of vehicles that could be on the City Street according to this ordinance,” Bradford said. “This is a low-speed vehicle, or what we are deeming now as a ‘Street Cart.'”
Any “Street Cart” must display a license tag or license plate issued by the state of Alabama under § 40-12-240- et seq. of the Code of Alabama (1975), amended, and required by § 32-6-51 of the Code of Alabama (1975), as amended.
Bradford explained that the “Street Cart” a modified golf cart that is DOT regulated and up to the DOT standards, which basically makes it the same type of vehicle as a normal vehicle or a low-speed vehicle.
“Those vehicles that have the VIN number, they’ve got the windshield, the mirrors, brake lights, horns, everything that’s required of the vehicle, a street cart has as well,” Bradford said. “These people who have purchased the street carts, they can take them over to the Jefferson County, DMV, and have them inspected.”
Bradford explained that if they pass inspections, they’re issued a tag, just like a car tag.
“A lot of people in Trussville have one, we really don’t have an ordinance regulating that and given them the authority to travel on a roadway that’s 25 miles an hour or less. So we need to regulate that,” Bradford said.
Any golf cart or vehicle that is certified by the manufacturer for use on streets and highways and meets all equipment requirements as stated in Article 9 of Title 32 of the Code of Alabama (1975), as amended, is considered a “Street Cart.”
The ordinance states that by permitting the operation of Street Carts, the City does not make any determination or representation that operating these types of carts are safe or may be safely operated upon the City Streets. All persons who are operating or riding in Street Carts do so at their own risk and peril.
No person shall operate a Golf Cart or Street Cart within the municipality except as provided in this ordinance.
Street Carts may only be operated upon a City Street. Street Carts are prohibited from operating upon any other street or public roadway, provided, however, that a Street Cart may cross over any other public road at an intersection that is controlled by a traffic control device.
A Street Cart operator must have a validly issued driver’s license issued by a state or country of origin. The operator shall comply with all “Rules of the Road” as found in Title 32 of the Code of Alabama (1975), as amended, and all other federal, state, or local laws that are now or may become applicable. Furthermore, a Street Cart operator shall operate the car in a prudent and safe manner at all times.
Street Carts shall not be operated upon any public sidewalk or bicycle path. Street Carts must have a validly issued tag and registration issued by the state Department of Revenue or its county or local office.
The driver of a Street Cart shall not park the cart in any designated handicapped parking space unless the cart has the required handicap decal as ordinarily required for all motor vehicles. They must also maintain and provide, upon registration and request, a copy of a valid insurance card or certificate as required by the Mandatory Automobile Liability Insurance Act codified in Chapter 7A of Title 32 of the Code of Alabama (1975) the minimum limits of which shall be those minimum requirements established in the Mandatory Automobile Liability Insurance Act.
The driver of a Street Cart must ensure that all passengers are safely and securely in the cart and are wearing seat belts, including compliance with any child restraint requirements.
While driving or operating a Street Cart, a driver is not allowed to use or otherwise physically hold a cellular device of any kind.
Any sworn law enforcement officer employed by the Trussville Police Department shall be responsible for the enforcement of this ordinance. Officers are authorized to utilize a uniform traffic ticket and citation (UTTC) form to cite a violation under this ordinance where appropriate.
Upon stopping or otherwise encountering a cart or vehicle not authorized under this ordinance, an officer may, in his or her absolute and sole discretion, seize and impound the cart or vehicle, which shall be impounded by the City’s towing and storage vendor. The owner of the unauthorized cart or vehicle shall be required to provide the following:
- a valid government-issued photo identification of the owner;
- a bill of sale showing the owner(s) names; and
- pay all required towing and storage fees to vendor.
Nothing contained within this ordinance shall apply to a Municipal Service Cart or any other government-authorized cart or vehicle.
The council asked for additional time to review the ordinance before it comes before them for a vote.