Golf Carts To-Go

Beach to Bayou - Aug/Sept 2018

Golf carts have escaped the boundaries of the greens and become a popular form of neighborhood transportation - and parade vehicle.  We've got the new Bay St. Louis & Waveland ordinances designed to keep you safe on the go.  
- story by Denise Jacobs, photos by Ellis Anderson 

Bay St. Louis might just be the only town in America with its own golf cart parade. The Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse parade has become the don't-miss thing to do in Bay St. Louis on the Monday before Mardi Gras Day.  This alone should tell you how seriously we take our golf carts.
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But until the recent passage of Mississippi Senate Bills SB 3026 (Bay St. Louis version) and SB 2940 ​(Waveland version), laws pertaining to golf cart use on public roads in Mississippi were vague to non-existent. The new legislation authorizes the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland to allow the operation of low-speed vehicles on certain streets within city limits.

So what is the legal definition of a golf cart? State lawmakers say that golf carts fall within the category of low-speed vehicles.

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According to the legislation, this definition is met by “any four-wheeled electric or gasoline-powered vehicle that has a top speed greater than 20 miles-per-hour but less than 25 miles-per-hour and is equipped with safety equipment as required under 49 CFR [Federal Code of Regulations} Section 571.500." 

This means the vehicle must be equipped with things like head and tail lights, brake lights, front and rear turn signals, mirrors, a windshield and a parking brake and more (read the complete list here).  

UPDATE:  This story was published August 1, the BSL Police Department released the flyer below August 15:  

 Who can operate a golf cart?
Golf cart operators must possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. 
 
Where can you drive your golf cart? 
As a rule of thumb, golf carts are allowed on public roads and streets with a speed limit of 25 miles-per-hour or less. 
 
Can you cross higher speed limit roads?  For instance, what if you live in Bay St. Louis on the north side of Highway 90 and want to travel via golf cart to the Second Saturday Artwalk festivities in Old Town? 

According to Senate Bill 3055 and the Bay's new ordinance 627-06-2018, golf carts may not be operated on U.S. 40, Highway 90, or Highway 603. However, golf carts may cross U.S. Highway 90 at the following signalized intersections in Bay St. Louis:

• Highway 90 and Beach Boulevard 

• Highway 90 and Dunbar Avenue
• Highway 90 Main Street/Blue Meadow Road
• Highway 90 and Drinkwater Road 
• Highway 90 and Washington Street
• Highway 90 and Bouslog Street

Golf carts have become a popular parade vehicle for all local parades, including the Waveland St. Paddy's parade

According to Waveland City Council Ordinance NO. 374, passed on July 3, 2018, golf carts will be allowed only "within the residential areas above and below Highway 90" with the exclusion of: ​

• all of U.S. Highway 90; 
• all of Kiln-Waveland Cutoff; 
• all of Highway 603 from the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and Waveland Avenue to Maple Street; and 
• from the intersection of U.S. Highway 90 and Nicholson Avenue to Jeff Davis Avenue

State legislation mandates that golf carts must be registered.  According to the Waveland ordinance, registration should be made through the City of Waveland Police Department and requires a $50.00 payment to the City of Waveland.  Check with the BSL Police Department for details on registration. 

Upon payment and registration, the City will provide applicants with a handy-dandy map of public roads on which golf carts can operate along with a registration decal that must be displayed on the left rear fender of the vehicle.  The registration is good as long as the registering owner owns the golf cart. 

Now, back to the parade - because we can never get too far from parades in the Bay:

Section 2 of Senate Bill 3055 stipulates that “Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when operated by a person participating in a parade permitted by the city, low-speed vehicles and golf carts may be operated on the permitted route of the parade while participating in the parade.”  Go Mystic Krewe! 

Golf Cart Parade Checklist:

• Golf cart registered
• Registration decal is visible on the vehicle 
• Drivers license & registration in vehicle
• Headlights work
• Brake lights work
• Turn signals work
• Windshield is clean 
• Golf cart is bedecked & bedazzled according to season and theme

A-OK! Good to go! 

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Shoofly Magazine sponsor Bodega (111 Court Street) rents golf carts - even for parades! Click on the photo for more information on their website.