(a)   Golf carts may be operated upon the public highways, streets, roads and alleys within the corporate limits of the city; provided, however, that no golf cart may be operated upon any public highway, street, road and alley with a posted speed limit in excess of 30 miles per hour. No golf cart shall be operated on any interstate highway, federal highway or state highway; provided, however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit a golf cart from crossing a federal or state highway with a posted speed limit greater than 30 miles per hour.

(b)   No golf cart shall be operated on any public highway, street, road or alley between sunset and sunrise.

(c)   Every person operating a golf cart on the public highways, streets, roads and alleys of the city shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle imposed by law.

(Ord. 984; Code 2015)

No person shall operate a golf cart within the corporate city limits of Stafford, Kansas unless the person is at least the age of 16.  A valid driver’s license is not required to operate a golf cart, however in the event the person operating a golf cart has their driver’s license suspended or revoked for any reason then the person shall be charged as operating a motor vehicle while their license is suspended or revoked as provided by the City Code.

(Ord. 984; Code 2015; Ord. 1033)

“Golf cart” means a motor vehicle that has not less than three wheels in contact with the ground, an unladen weight of not more than 1,800 pounds, is designed to be operated at not more than 25 miles per hour and is designed to carry not more than four persons, including the driver.

(Ord. 984; Code 2015)

Unless specifically provided herein, a violation of this section shall be deemed an ordinance traffic infraction. Upon an entry of a plea of guilty or no contest or upon being convicted of such violation, the penalty imposed shall be in accordance with Section 201, 2008 Standard Traffic Ordinance, and amendments thereto, or such other similar provision as the city may then have in effect.

(Ord. 984; Code 2015)

(a)   It shall be illegal to operate a golf carts vehicle on any public highway, street, road or alley within the corporate limits of the city unless such vehicle displays a slow moving vehicle emblem on the rear of the vehicle.

(b)   For the purpose of this section, “slow-moving vehicle emblem” has the same meaning as contained in KS.A. 8-1717, and amendments thereto.

(c)   The slow-moving vehicle emblem shall be mounted and displayed in compliance with K.S.A. 8-1717, and amendments thereto.

(Ord. 984; Code 2015)

(a)   Every owner of a golf cart shall provide liability coverage in accordance with Section 200 of the 2008 Standard Traffic Ordinance, and amendments thereto, and the Kansas Automobile Injury Reparations Act, K.S.A. 40-3101, et seq., and amendments thereto.

(b)   All provisions of Section 200 of the 2008 Standard Traffic Ordinance, and amendments thereto, including penalty provisions, shall be applicable to all owners and operators of golf carts.

(Ord. 984; Code 2015)

(a)   Before operating any golf cart any public highway, street, road or alley within the corporate limits of the city and each calendar year thereafter, the vehicle shall be registered with the city and a license shall be obtained and placed on the golf cart. The license fee shall be Twenty - Five Dollars ($25) per calendar year, payable in advance to the City Clerk, or other person designated by the city. The full amount of the license fee shall be required regardless of the time of year that the application is made.

(b)   Application for registration of a golf cart shall be made by the owner, or owner’s agent, in the office of the City Clerk. The application shall be made upon forms provided by the city and each application shall contain the name of the owner, the owner’s residence address, or bona fide place of business, a brief description of the vehicle to be registered (including make, model and serial number, if applicable). Proof of insurance, as required in Section 6 shall be furnished at the time of application for registration.

(c)   Prior to the issuance of the registration and license, each applicant for a golf cart license shall first present such vehicle for an official inspection. If, upon inspection and completion of the registration application, such vehicle is found to be in safe mechanical condition, and upon establishing proof of insurance and payment of the fees herein provided, a license shall be issued to the owner who shall attach it to the vehicle. The license shall be displayed in such a manner as to be clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle. The license number on the application will be accounted for and then filed in the police department.

(d)   It is unlawful for any person to willfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter such licenses during the time in which the same is operative.

(e)   The license issued hereunder is not transferable. In the event of sale or other transfer of ownership of any vehicle license under the provisions of this section, the existing license and the right to use the numbered license shall expire, and the license shall be removed by the owner. It is unlawful for any person other than the person to whom the license was originally issued to have the same in his possession.

(f)    In the event a license is lost or destroyed, the City Clerk, or other person designated by the city, upon proper showing by the licensee and the payment of a fee of Ten Dollars ($10), shall issue a new license in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(g)   It shall be unlawful for any person to:

(1)   Operate, or for the owner thereof knowingly to permit the operation, upon a public street, road, highway, or alley within the corporate limits of the city any golf cart, as defined herein, which is not registered and which does not have attached thereto and displayed thereon the license assigned thereto by the city for the current registration year.

(2)   Display, cause or permit to be displayed, or to have in possession, any registration receipt, registration license or registration decal knowing the same to be fictitious or to have been canceled, revoked, suspended or altered. A violation of this subsection (2) shall constitute an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100.00 and forfeiture of the item. A mandatory court appearance shall be required of any person violating this subsection.

(3)   Lend to or knowingly permit the use by one not entitled thereto any registration receipt, registration license plate or registration decal issued to the person so lending or permitting the use thereof.

(4)   Remove, conceal, alter, mark or deface the license number plate, plates or decals, or any other mark of identification upon any work-site utility vehicle. Licenses shall be kept clean and placed as required by law so as to be plainly visible and legible.

(5)   Carry or display a registered number plate or plates or registration decal upon any golf cart not lawfully issued for such vehicle.

(6)   Any person convicted of a violation of any of the provisions of this section, shall for the first conviction thereof be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00; for a second such conviction within one year thereafter, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00; upon a third or subsequent conviction within one year after the first conviction, such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00.

(Ord. 984; Code 2015)

(a)   Operation of Micro-Utility Vehicles:

(1)   Micro-utility vehicles may be operated upon the public highways, streets, roads and alleys within the corporate limits of the city.

(2)   “Micro-utility vehicles” means any motor vehicles which is not less than 48 inches in width, has an overall length, including the pumper , of not more than 144 inches, has an unladed weight, including fuel and fluids, of more than 1500 lbs., can exceed 40 mph as originally manufactured and is manufactured with a metal cab. This shall not include work-site utility vehicles.

(b)   Operation of Work-Site Utility Vehicles:

(1)   Work-site utility vehicles may be operated upon the public highways, streets, roads and alleys within the corporate limits of the city.

(2)   “Work-site vehicles” means any motor vehicles which is not less than 48 inches in width, has an overall length, including the bumper, of not more than 135 inches, has an unladen weight, including fuel and fluids, of more than 800 pounds and is equipped with four or more low pressure tires, a steering wheel and bench or bucket type seating allowing a least two people to sit side by side, a fully enclosed metal or metal-reinforced cab, front and rear bumpers, and may be equipped with a bed or cargo box for hauling materials. All of the provisions of Sections 14-601 through 14-607 which apply to the operation of golf carts within the corporate city limits shall be applicable to the operation of Micro-utility vehicles and work-site utility vehicles with the exception of the requirement of a slow moving sign as set forth in Section 14-605. The provisions of 14-601(b), restricting the operation of vehicles from sunrise to sunset, shall not apply to the operation of Micro-utility vehicles or work site utility vehicles if these vehicles are equipped as required by Article 17 of Chapter 8 of Kansas Statutes Annotated.

(Ord. 989; Code 2015)