46.2-916.3 - Limitations on golf cart and utility vehicle operations on designated public highways.
§ 46.2-916.3. Limitations on golf cart and utility vehicle operations ondesignated public highways.
A. Golf cart and utility vehicle operations on designated public highwaysshall be in accordance with the following limitations:
1. A golf cart or utility vehicle may be operated only on designated publichighways where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less. A golfcart or utility vehicle may cross a highway at an intersection controlled bya traffic light and in the Town of Colonial Beach at an intersectionconspicuously marked as a golf cart crossing by signs posted by the VirginiaDepartment of Transportation if the highway has a posted speed limit of nomore than 35 miles per hour;
2. In towns with a population of 2,000 or less, a golf cart or utilityvehicle may cross a highway at an intersection conspicuously marked as a golfcart crossing by signs posted by the Virginia Department of Transportation ifthe highway has a posted speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour andthe crossing is required as the only means to provide golf cart access fromone part of the town to another part of the town;
3. No person shall operate any golf cart or utility vehicle on any publichighway 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 highwaysonly between sunrise and sunset, unless equipped with such lights as arerequired in Article 3 (§ 46.2-1010 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title, fordifferent classes of vehicles.
B. The limitations of subdivision A 1 shall not apply to golf carts andutility vehicles being operated as follows:
1. To cross a highway from one portion of a golf course to another portionthereof or to another adjacent golf course; or to travel between a person'shome and golf course if (i) the trip would not be longer than one-half milein either direction, and (ii) the speed limit on the road is no more than 35miles per hour;
2. To the extent necessary for local government employees, operating onlyupon highways located within the locality, to fulfill a governmental purpose,provided the golf cart or utility vehicle is being operated on highways withspeed limits of 35 miles per hour or less;
3. As necessary by employees of public or private two-year or four-yearinstitutions of higher education if operating on highways within the propertylimits of such institutions, provided the golf cart or utility vehicle isbeing operated on highways with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less; and
4. On a secondary highway system component that has a posted speed limit ofno more than 35 miles per hour and is within three miles of a motor speedwaywith a seating capacity of at least 25,000 but less than 90,000 on the sameday as any race or race-related event conducted on that speedway.
C. The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance imposeadditional restrictions or limitations on operations of golf carts, utilityvehicles, or both, on public highways within its boundaries, provided thatthe restrictions or limitations imposed by any such ordinance are no lessstringent than the restrictions and limitations contained in this article. Inthe event that any provision of any such ordinance conflicts with anyprovision of this section, the provision of the ordinance shall becontrolling.
(2004, c. 746; 2008, c. 456; 2009, cc. 743, 835; 2010, c. 112.)