After numerous discussions over the past six months, the Clearwater City Council last week approved a new ordinance regulating the use of golf carts and other specialty vehicles on city streets.

 

Last November, residents from Clearwater Estates approached the council about driving golf carts on city streets. State law prohibits the use of golf carts on city streets unless the city has its own ordinance allowing it.

 

In March, the council was close to adopting a new ordinance, but tabled the issue until Administrator Kevin Kress could research whether the city could pass an ordinance without requiring permits.

He had the answer last week.

 

“It is a state law requiring that we have to issue a permit as part of the specialty vehicle ordinance,” Kress told members of the council. “The only questions I have, are you guys interested in having them do an actual sticker or is a paper document enough?”

 

Councilman Chris Ritzer just wanted proof the vehicles were registered.

 

“As long as we have in our possession a signed paper, that would be enough for me,” he said.

 

That was the consensus of the council - no sticker, but something verifying the vehicle had a permit.

 

“We’re not looking for our deputies to pull them over because there isn’t a sticker,” said Mayor Pete Edmonson.

 

Under the ordinance, the permit application will include the name and address of the applicant, make and model of the vehicle, current driver’s license or a certificate signed by a physician allowing the applicant to operate the vehicle.

 

Applicants must have proof of insurance, and each vehicle is required to have a rear view mirror and display a “slow moving vehicle” emblem.

 

The council discussed the length of the permit before settling on three years at a cost of $35.

 

The ordinance covers multiple types of vehicles, and most regulations follow state statute, said Kress. Under that statute, carts and other specialty vehicles are permitted on city streets and not on state or federal highways, but can cross them at designated intersections. Only golf carts are permitted to travel on city owned trails, paths and assigned parks, including the paved bike path.