Last week, on my way home from work, two young girls, maybe 12 or 13 were on a golf cart that ran the stop sign at the intersection of Monroe and Nectarine. I drove a cab in the DC area for several years, so I developed a sense of when a driver is going to do something stupid, and was able to avoid running them over.
Locals will tell you this is not an isolated incident. Young kids, drunk teens, and adults are driving all over town, treating the golf cart like an amusement park ride. This is all happening with the knowledge and tacit approval of the Mayor, Town Council, and Police. With tourist dollars driving the agenda, our officials would rather risk public safety than upset the golden goose.
The Mirror has fielded complaints from residents that say they have been nearly run over by kids driving the carts. Some of the newer carts with performance engines and performance-modified controllers are pretty fast now. It’s bad when you have to yell at cart drivers to slow down as they fly past your kids.
A reader told the Mirror that last week they witnessed intoxicated drivers attempting to do donuts in the park. Not sure if that’s funny or just stupid.
Locals understand to watch out for golf carts when they are driving through town, but I’m not sure visitors are quite as aware. After a few drinks, and driving back to the rental, probably too fast, are they going to be able to react in time when a golf cart full of kids comes flying out in front of them?
I don’t blame the tourists as much as town officials. They are here to have fun and have “Vacay Brain”. If the police don’t step up and start issuing tickets and fines, someone is going to get killed. Citizens can’t be expected to educate our visitors. Actually when we try, we usually just get a dirty look or flipped off.
Much like the drownings of the past few years, nothing happens until you have a corpse.
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Twice I have seen 2 golf carts, side by,side, racing down Harbor Ave. they were driven by young teens laughing and screaming. Of course they were tourist, and tourist bring dollars, so no problem. Cape Charles has only one reason for existing, please the tourist, or as I call them, summer people.
As Town officials we recognize this is an issue. I can assure everyone that we are not turning a blind eye. Our Police Department are stopping golf carts when they see this type of activity taking place. When operating a golf cart on public streets, all laws apply as if you are driving a car. I would very much like that all our residents, vacation rental owners, golf cart rentals to please help educate your guest, customers and neighbors.
Thank you
Note: You are now.
Thank YOU! I would like to acknowledge that, for the size of the Police Dept., they “have their hands full”. Thank you.
Why are they driving golf carts on state roads?
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-916.3/
§ 46.2-916.3. Limitations on golf cart and utility vehicle operations on designated public highways.
A. Golf cart and utility vehicle operations on designated public highways shall be in accordance with the following limitations:
1. A golf cart or utility vehicle may be operated only on designated public highways where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less. However, a golf cart or utility vehicle may cross a highway at an intersection controlled by a traffic light if the highway has a posted speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour and in the Town of Colonial Beach may cross any highway at an intersection marked as a golf cart crossing by signs posted by the Virginia Department of Transportation;
2. In towns with a population of 2,000 or less, a golf cart or utility vehicle may cross a highway at an intersection conspicuously marked as a golf cart crossing by signs posted by the Virginia Department of Transportation if the highway has a posted speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour and the crossing is required as the only means to provide golf cart access from one part of the town to another part of the town;
3. No person shall operate any golf cart or utility vehicle on any public highway unless he has in his possession a valid driver’s license;
4. Every golf cart or utility vehicle, whenever operated on a public highway, shall display a slow-moving vehicle emblem in conformity with § 46.2-1081; and
5. Golf carts and utility vehicles shall be operated upon the public highways only between sunrise and sunset, unless equipped with such lights as are required in Article 3 (§ 46.2-1010 et seq.) of Chapter 10 for different classes of vehicles.
B. The limitations of subdivision A 1 shall not apply to golf carts and utility vehicles being operated as follows:
1. To cross a highway from one portion of a golf course to another portion thereof or to another adjacent golf course or to travel between a person’s home and golf course if (i) the trip would not be longer than one-half mile in either direction and (ii) the speed limit on the road is no more than 35 miles per hour;
2. To the extent necessary for local government employees, operating only upon highways located within the locality, to fulfill a governmental purpose, provided the golf cart or utility vehicle is being operated on highways with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less;
3. As necessary by employees of public or private two-year or four-year institutions of higher education if operating on highways within the property limits of such institutions, provided the golf cart or utility vehicle is being operated on highways with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less;
4. On a secondary highway system component that has a posted speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour and is within three miles of a motor speedway with a seating capacity of at least 25,000 but less than 90,000 on the same day as any race or race-related event conducted on that speedway;
5. To the extent necessary for employees of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, operating only on highways located within Department of Conservation and Recreation property or upon Virginia Department of Transportation-maintained highways that are adjacent to Department of Conservation and Recreation property, to fulfill a governmental purpose, provided that the golf cart or utility vehicle is being operated on highways with speed limits of no more than 35 miles per hour; and
6. To cross a one-lane or two-lane highway from one portion of a venue hosting an equine event to another portion thereof if (i) the crossing occurs on the same day as such equine event, (ii) a temporary traffic control zone is established at such crossing with speed limits of no more than 35 miles per hour, and (iii) the crossing and highway vehicular traffic are being monitored and controlled by a uniformed law-enforcement officer.
C. The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance impose additional restrictions or limitations on operations of golf carts, utility vehicles, or both, on public highways within its boundaries, provided that the restrictions or limitations imposed by any such ordinance are no less stringent than the restrictions and limitations contained in this article. In the event that any provision of any such ordinance conflicts with any provision of this section other than subdivision B 5, the provision of the ordinance shall be controlling.
2004, c. 746; 2008, c. 456; 2009, cc. 743, 835; 2010, c. 112; 2011, cc. 68, 140, 469; 2018, c. 112.
The chapters of the acts of assembly referenced in the historical citation at the end of this section may not constitute a comprehensive list of such chapters and may exclude chapters whose provisions have expired.
True story Wayne. I may have mentioned this to you in the past. Last July I witnessed a child (say eight years old or so, clearly not a teenager with a learner’s permit) with his mom and another child driving a cart on Bay Avenue. From the sidewalk I informed the occupants that the kid could not drive on a public street. They keep driving. Next day I saw the same kid driving the same cart, this time with his dad. Once again, from the sidewalk I inform the occupants that only licensed drivers can operate a cart on a public street. This time pop gets out and gets in my face about not telling him how to raise his kid. OK. Fair enough. I walk into the police station. Ask Chief Pruitt to join me. We walk over together, since these folks were renting a house in the 400-block of Randolph Avenue. Pennsylvania license plates, for what that’s worth. Chief asks if the boy driver has a license. Father says they were just driving one block (which they were not). Chief informs pop that if he sees the kid operate a cart again he’ll charge the father with child endangerment. Situation ends. Perhaps we lost a tourist family at that time. Fine. Perhaps there was a corresponding social media post about how the local cops hassle tourists. Fine. This summer I had a similar experience with a family in the Pine and Monroe area. OK, again. Maybe they never come back either. Fine again.
The police are intervening when they witness these events. Moral of the story is a place with no rules is a place, eventually, where people don’t want to go. The cops know they will be supported for enforcing the law, and that was not always the case. One town manager’s perspective.
Could someone please tell me why golf carts are allowed or even needed on state roads?
Immediately impound the golf carts that are being driven by underage kids, fine the parents, and ban them from renting carts in the future. Once people know the laws and consequences are serious then they will take it seriously.
I have seen a golf cart driving on the sidewalk on Monroe Ave. for a full block or more at a pretty fast speed. One was flying down Bay Ave. while texting or reading on smart phone for the entire length of the beach- I was on my bicycle following him. I saw a group of teens try to ride over the railroad tracks in the museum parking lot, they got stuck on the tracks and all got out to drag golf cart off the tracks. It’s insanity, a total disregard for their own safety and that of the residents. It’s disrespectful to the residents who live here year round and pay double taxes, high rates for water you can’t even drink, come home to find you will be toting your groceries a half a block because vacationers are parking in front of your house. Nothing will be done. Maybe it should just be vacation homes only and we can see what happens when no one is here to pay for the water and other expenses the other 8 months out of the year. Thanks.
As a tourist, I totally agree with you! What happened to using feet and muscle power to haul gear to the beach?
Amen. Those golf carts fly up and down monroe sidewalks and streets. One almost took my car door off because I didn’t hear or see it coming. Really wish these tourists would have some respect.
Why are golf carts being driven on state roads?
As a full time resident I applaud the Town for allowing golf carts on town roads. I have not seen full time residents abuse this privilege only tourists and weekenders. I would not like a golf cart ban because of a few irresponsible parents. The police should be the able to confiscate carts that are being operated in an unsafe manner and levy a fine against those who abuse this privilege. Would love to hear the opinion of the golf cart rental companies in town and how they promote safe driving policies.
Leaving St Charles Catholic Church today, a ‘man’ who should have known better was driving a golf cart on the SIDEWALK!!
So much for golf cart safety!#
Why are golf carts being driven on state roads?
If we put cops on commission, we could balance the budget.
I think it the responsibility of the parents who rent the Carts . I have seen the police 👮♀️ pull over carts . I also it’s our job to call the Police, see something say something.
Not only driving recklessly in town. I’ve seen several in Cape Charles Cemetery and holding up lines of cars on county roads. I think they’re a great idea, used correctly, in town. But somebody’s going to get hurt if the rules aren’t more stringently enforced. 😢
We saw a young girl getting a “driving lesson” with dad in the passenger seat, in a golf cart, in the alley behind the Community building on Sunday morning. Started to say something, but they took off down the alley, so was not sure if the rules apply in the alley. If you can clarify this for me, I am glad to educate offenders. In this case, there was a younger sibling sitting on the back seat. If for no other reason, you would think the parent would care about the safety of his two kids!
I think they’re a great idea, used correctly, on a GOLF COURSE.
I was at St Charles Catholic Church for 5:00 Sat Mass…came out of church at 6:00. Had parked two spaces down from the front of the church. Surprise-a crowd was standing around the back of my 2018 Ford Explorer. Several people witnessed a tall grey haired “gentleman? “trying to pull out of his parking space behind my vehicle in his golf cart. They all heard a loud crash as he rammed into the back of my SUV, then backed into the vehicle behind him. A parishioner ran down the church steps managed to take his keys from him offering to drive him home, he snatched the keys back, pulled forward once again hitting the rear of my car, and took off. No one recognized him but said he was obviously intoxicated and just didnt know how to drive the golf cart. Hit and run-no respect, no conscience. I need to replace part of my bumper-I have several pieces from his white 4 seater golf cart. My family and I witnessed the same thing happening during the 4th of July as we were walking to the parade. Another inexperienced golf cart driver trying to parallel park. Luckily the owner of the house came rushing out as he heard the crash. They are for the golf course people!
Wow, kill all the fun you buncha liberal scolds.
I so hope the tourist industry dries up and y’all can chew on a %1000 tax and fee increase.