Five things to know about driving golf carts at Brunswick's beaches

Earlier this summer, Southport Police Chief Todd Coring was riding through town when he saw something that stopped him in his tracks.

A golf cart, driven by an underage driver, was cruising the streets, pulling a teen riding a skateboard and holding a dog on a leash.

Coring held his breath as they approached the intersection. The golf cart stopped; the skateboard didn’t. Thankfully, all were safe and unharmed.

“The boy held onto the dog, jumped off the skateboard, and never missed a beat,” Coring recalled. “The skateboard rolled out into the road, but thankfully, the cars stopped and everything was all right.”

While Coring took a minute to joke with the boy about his amazing balance and coordination, he also educated the kids about the city’s low-speed vehicle ordinance, which mandates golf cart drivers must be at least 18 years old.

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Coring’s not alone. Across Brunswick County, beach towns are seeing an increase in the number of violations. Sunset Beach Police Chief Kenneth Klamar noted in addition to tourists who may be unfamiliar with the rules, one of the issues driving the increase in violations is the volume of golf carts on the roads during the summer months.

While it may be a fun, easy way to get around town, leaders in several Brunswick municipalities say they are concerned for the safety of the riders and those around them, and they are considering how to address the issue.

Here are five things to know if you plan to operate a golf cart in Brunswick’s beach towns.

Understand local ordinances

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to golf cart ordinances, and towns don’t have to allow them.

On Bald Head Island, golf carts are the primary mode of transportation and are permitted, but it’s a bit different on Sunset Beach. Klamar explained that while they don’t allow traditional golf carts, they do allow Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) as outlined in North Carolina General Statute 20-121.1. Like Bald Head Island, the City of Southport also permits golf carts, but they must be registered with the city annually.

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Most municipalities have their ordinances listed on their website. Check it before you hit the road to be sure you are in compliance.

'Golf cart' and 'low-speed vehicle' terms not interchangeable 

North Carolina General Statute defines a golf cart as “a vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.” A low-speed vehicle, or LSV as it if often called, is covered in the North Carolina General Statutes, which defines it as “a four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but less than 25 miles per hour.”

The statute permits low-speed vehicles on “only on streets and highways where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.” Low-speed vehicles must be registered with the state and insured.

Drivers must be of age

Daisy Ivey, town administrator for Ocean Isle Beach, said the issues they primarily see are underage drivers and unsecured children. These issues were reported across the board by officials in Brunswick’s beach towns, and they say it’s a safety concern.

Even though it’s not a car, a golf cart still poses significant injury risk.

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“You don’t have as much protection around you as you do in a vehicle,” Coring said.

While some towns allow 16-year-olds to operate golf carts, others, like Southport, require drivers to be at least 18 years old.

Traffic laws still apply

Driving a golf cart means obeying traffic laws by stopping at stop signs and stoplights. Golf cart drivers should also know even though golf carts are smaller than most traditional vehicles, they still should be parked in traditional parking spaces. Officials also note that when it comes to drinking and driving, golf carts are treated the same as motor vehicles, and intoxicated drivers will be charged with Driving While Impaired (DWI).

Towns are cracking down on violators

After seeing an increase in violations over the summer, towns are working to address the issue through education and increased enforcement. On July 21, the Oak Island Police Department reported 24 LSV stops in a single hour. The most common citations were for no child restraints, unregistered vehicles which did not possess the necessary equipment, and overloaded capacity.

Michael Emory, public information officer for Oak Island, said that in addition to increased enforcement, the town is attempting to educate the public on the rules.  

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“We have already begun this effort with an increased social media push, as well as redesigning and reprinting our ‘Respect the Road’ information cards, which are being provided by the Police Department, available at Town Hall, and available to all LSV rental companies,” Emory said in an email.

Coring also reported that Southport is increasing enforcement efforts and hosting golf cart registration events to ensure that golf carts have the necessary safety equipment and are registered with the city. He said the goal is to ensure everyone’s safety.

“We welcome golf carts,” he said. “We just want people to be safe on the roads.”