The chances are that if you are driving your golf cart around Rio Vista, you are not "legal."  Although the police department is seemingly looking the other way on this issue, for now, there is a way to legally drive your golf cart on neighborhood streets.  The purpose of this article is to educate our neighborhood on the law and help you avoid a Uniform Traffic Citation.

 

Under a recently enacted law, your golf cart can be converted into a legitimate, newly created class of motor vehicle called a "Low-speed Electric Vehicle" as defined by Section 316.2122 Fla. Stat.  If you add certain safety equipment to your golf cart such as head lights, brake lights, turn signals, seat-belts, a higher speed motor, ect, you too can get a license plate, just like your automobile.  The law, however, limits the use of your Low-speed Vehicle to streets that have a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less.  As such, trips to Winn Dixie, Southport or Publix shopping centers along Cordova Road are permissible.  Once all the safety equipment is added to your cart, your next step is to have the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles conduct an inspection of the cart.  To schedule an appointment, call (954) 797-8436.  Once certified, you can get insurance, a real license plate and off you go, legally.  As for our family, we happened to chose a University of Florida specialty license plate to commemorate the Gators' recent back-to-back-to-back National Championships.  Note for parents: all operators must have a valid Florida drivers license!

 

I hope that this article clarifies some issues that surround the use of golf carts around the streets of Rio Vista.  Happy motoring!