CAPE CHARLES, Va. — Police in Cape Charles now have confirmed legal authority to stop golf carts operating in violation of motor vehicle laws, particularly when children’s safety is at risk, town officials announced following a legal review prompted by ongoing resident complaints.
The clarification comes after weekly reports submitted through the town’s “Report-a-Concern” system regarding underage drivers and adults holding babies while operating golf carts on public streets.
Town Manager Rick Keuroglian said the legal opinion was sought after persistent public concerns.
For those who have been living in Cape Charles for the last 20 or 30 years, it seems odd that the town would be seeking this information now. Even back then, you had to have a valid driver’s license to register and drive the cart; it had to be inspected, had to have a safety ‘triangle’, and it had to have seat belts, which children were supposed to use. What changed?
Mr. Keuroglian told the Mirror, “This has been brewing for quite some time, and I get phone calls and emails from the public weekly about people holding babies driving their golf carts or underage kids driving golf carts. I have seen this more times than I would like and have brought this up multiple times in our Department Head Meetings and with our Police Chief. The question that always comes up is, do officers have the legal authority to stop a person holding a baby while driving a golf cart. For some reason, this has been challenged in the past that it would deter tourism. If that was the case, then the County would be up in arms about Eastville police officers! I don’t think tourism has been deterred with the constant tickets that Eastville Cops are doing! Or in another way, our Officers strictly enforce parking in Downtown and tourists get citations every time they park headward on Mason Ave and that has not stopped tourism. Another thing to note is that the streets are not owned by Cape Charles; we just enforce the laws.”
The town attorney’s review determined that Cape Charles has adopted Virginia Code Section 46.2 through its municipal code, which includes regulations for both motor vehicles and child restraint systems. Under this framework, golf carts are classified as motor vehicles subject to state safety requirements.
The legal opinion established two primary enforcement areas:
Golf cart motor vehicle status: Golf carts fall under the town’s motor vehicle ordinance and are regulated pursuant to Virginia Code Section 46.2-916.3, which governs golf cart operations on public highways. Police officers have authority to stop golf carts violating these regulations.
Child safety requirements: Under adopted Section 46.2-1095, any child up to age eight transported in a motor vehicle must be secured in a federally approved child restraint device. This requirement extends to golf carts, meaning babies must be in car seats rather than held by operators.
The attorney’s research found that Norfolk and Virginia Beach apply similar motor vehicle classifications to golf carts and incorporate the same state code sections.
For the current season, Cape Charles plans a community education approach rather than immediate citations. The town will conduct outreach to violators, create informational stickers with motor vehicle ordinance details for golf cart windshields during inspections, and notify property management companies and golf cart rental businesses about the upcoming enforcement.
Citations will begin next year, officials said.
The enforcement authority addresses long-standing concerns about golf cart safety in the coastal Virginia town, where the vehicles are popular for local transportation. Virginia law requires golf cart operators to have valid driver’s licenses and limits their use to roads with posted speed limits of 25 mph or less, with some exceptions for crossing higher-speed roads at controlled intersections.
Golf carts must display slow-moving vehicle emblems and can only operate between sunrise and sunset unless equipped with required lighting.
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It’s about time !!
“The town will seek Outreach to violators….”
Ha Ha hahaha….
This is so stupid!
If you have certified police officers, they are sworn to enforce ALL laws of the commonwealth, ALL the time and everywhere!
Tourist season has NOTHING to do with enforcing the law!
It’s called public safety!
Now why in the hell are you waiting for next year to enforce the law?
Get off your ass chief and enforce the law!
You know that oath that you took to become chief of police!
What a disgrace!
Scotiagirl could not agree more! Why wait to enforce existing laws? Where does this end? Do we need to risk having babies crushed (by a steering wheel while on Mommy’s lap? Smeared in the street after having fallen out of a golf cart? ) These are the SAME people who strap their little ones in an approved child seat when they head to Food Lion but somehow they believe their kids need the “fun and freedom” of riding through the streets of Cape Charles unencumbered. These people should see what can happen to an infant, toddler and even an adult after an impact even less than 25mph.
So….. our new town manager exposes himself as severely lacking.
As if the professional Eastville Police force writing tickets to vehicles doing well over 70 mph on the highway has anything to do with sub 20 mph golf carts in town.
Ridiculous argument. New town manager huh?
Next contestant please.
Look at who hired the town manager – Town Council.
Evidently, they can’t use Google search.
I should be careful what I suggest or else they will hire a consultant.
Everyone should have seen these types of outcomes, after hiring a Colorado Liberal.
The Town ‘leaders’ outdid themselves this time.
Idiot report: August 15 2025 while eating g at a local pizza joint I sighted 11 carts with unrestrained toddlers some with teenagers driving. One cart in particular caught my eye. It had 7 children and two moms holding infants on it. Oldest kid may have been 8. Mom that was driving had a cigarette with a seltzer!! Never saw a cop the whole time we were there. It’s ridiculous!