Bill Text: FL S1290 | 2023 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Operation of a Golf Cart
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-01 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 949 (Ch. 2023-67) [S1290 Detail]
Download: Florida-2023-S1290-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2023 CS for SB 1290
By the Committee on Transportation; and Senators Grall and Perry
596-03502-23 20231290c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to operation of a golf cart; amending
3 s. 316.212, F.S.; authorizing water control districts
4 to designate certain roads for the operation of golf
5 carts; requiring county approval to make such
6 designation; prohibiting a person from operating a
7 golf cart on certain roadways unless he or she
8 possesses a valid learner’s driver license or valid
9 driver license that is not suspended or revoked;
10 amending s. 322.04, F.S.; conforming a provision to
11 changes made by the act; providing an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Subsections (1) and (7) of section 316.212,
16 Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (9) of that
17 section is republished, to read:
18 316.212 Operation of golf carts on certain roadways.—The
19 operation of a golf cart upon the public roads or streets of
20 this state is prohibited except as provided herein:
21 (1) A golf cart may be operated only upon a county road
22 that has been designated by a county, a municipal street that
23 has been designated by a municipality, or a two-lane county road
24 located within the jurisdiction of a municipality designated by
25 that municipality, or a road that is owned and maintained by a
26 water control district and has been designated by that water
27 control district, for use by golf carts. Prior to making such a
28 designation, the responsible local governmental entity must
29 first determine that golf carts may safely travel on or cross
30 the public road or street, considering factors including the
31 speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using the
32 road or street. If such designation is to be made by a water
33 control district, the district must receive approval from the
34 county in which the road to be designated is located. Upon a
35 determination that golf carts may be safely operated on a
36 designated road or street and, in the case of a determination
37 made by a water control district, county approval, the
38 responsible governmental entity shall post appropriate signs to
39 indicate that such operation is allowed.
40 (7) A golf cart may not be operated on public roads or
41 streets by a any person:
42 (a) Who is under 16 years of age unless he or she possesses
43 a valid learner’s driver license that is not suspended or
44 revoked.
45 (b) Who is 16 years of age or older unless he or she
46 possesses a valid learner’s driver license or valid driver
47 license that is not suspended or revoked the age of 14.
48 (9) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic
49 infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as a moving
50 violation for infractions of subsections (1)-(5) or a local
51 ordinance corresponding thereto and enacted pursuant to
52 subsection (8), or punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as a
53 nonmoving violation for infractions of subsection (6),
54 subsection (7), or a local ordinance corresponding thereto and
55 enacted pursuant to subsection (8).
56 Section 2. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
57 322.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
58 322.04 Persons exempt from obtaining driver license.—
59 (1) The following persons are exempt from obtaining a
60 driver license:
61 (e) Any person operating a golf cart, as defined in s.
62 320.01, which is operated in accordance with the provisions of
63 s. 316.212.
64 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
