SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — The Surfside Beach Town Council has approved new regulations for golf cart use, allowing them to be driven year-round as long as they are equipped with headlights or taillights.
The decision came after a 5-2 vote during a council meeting, where members debated the ordinance changes.
Previously, local laws restricted golf cart operation to between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. from March 1 to Halloween.
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Under the new rules, golf carts can be driven at any time of the year, but they must not be operated from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise unless they meet the town’s standards.
Council member Chris Stamey expressed concerns about the safety of golf carts, stating, “Golf carts are dangerous no doubt about it and you’re putting people out on the road and I understand a lot of citizens would say we have the right. But we don’t have the right that’s why we make laws for everyone to go by if we didn’t have laws, we didn’t have crap.”
Interim Police Chief William Mickle presented data on golf cart-related incidents, noting that last year there were 80 citations, compared to 18 so far this year.
“150 Warning citations in 2024 were written 74 were warnings citations written so far this year. And then last year they had 11 accidents total two of those were injuries this year so far, we’ve also had 11 accidents and six are reported as injury accidents,” Mickle said.
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Mickle emphasized the importance of adhering to state laws and regulations, saying, “Make sure you’re following those laws, it’s not just a free for all now just because you can drive at night you still have to follow all the other laws for safe operation.”
The new rules are effective immediately.
State law mandates that drivers and riders under the age of 12 must wear seat belts on all golf carts.