Should golf cart owners register with the DMV and pay a fee?

South Carolina golf cart owners would have to register for license plates at the department of motor vehicles for a $50 fee — with proof of insurance and a valid drivers license — under a proposed state law.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Stephen Goldfinch of Georgetown, said license decals affixed to golf carts are needed, but the $50 amount is not set in stone.

“There are lots of different loopholes and the law has no teeth as it currently stands,” Goldfinch said.

He said the measure is intended to start a conversation about the safety issues confronting beach towns where there is an abundance of the electric-powered vehicles that can cause traffic jams as they meander down highways at 15 miles an hour.

Police have no way to enforce parking laws because there is no license plate on the cart to identify the owner, and drivers need to be licensed, Goldfinch said. Also, the current law does not require the DMV to share owner information with police.

There have been several crashes involving golf carts and vehicles along the Grand Strand in recent years, and, Goldfinch said, underage driving is a big problem in beach resort towns and surrounding communities.

“Everyone who lives at the beach is concerned about the number of youthful drivers,” Goldfinch said. “I saw one at Highway 17 and Tournament Boulevard who could not have been more than 12 years old. It’s also a parenting issue, but the police need to be able to enforce the law.”

Goldfinch said his intent is for anyone who is driving a golf cart on the road to be licensed, and if they are pulled over or parked illegally, for the police to be able to identify the owner immediately and issue a citation.

Goldfinch pre-filed the bill on Dec. 6, and said it’s the identical legislation he introduced years ago when he was still in the State House.

The language calling for a $50 permit decal was originally intended to add money to the state road fund. Since the legislature passed the gas tax bill earlier this session, Goldfinch said there is no immediate need for a fee that high.

The legislation applies to individual owners and golf cart rental companies.

“It’s going to hurt us,” said Ben Robinson, owner of Moped Rental of Myrtle Beach. “If you’re going to tax the golf cart fee, it’s just another way to generate revenue for the state. But if the state can present a cost for having golf carts on the road, then present it to us.”

“Where’s the money going? I don’t know what it cost the state to provide a decal. If they can provide the need, how can we deny them? If you can represent it in a way that’s understandable to people, then I guess it’s okay,” Robinson said.

The proposed state bill be considered after the legislature reconvenes in January. If approved, it would take effect July 1, 2018.

The Myrtle Beach City Council is also considering a measure that would limit the number of vehicles that moped and golf cart rental businesses would rent out and where the businesses can set up shop.

The new rules say the city can shut down a rental business and that police officers can tell a company to stop renting vehicles for up to four hours if they feel there are too many golf carts and mopeds on the road.

The point is to regulate how many mopeds and golf carts are on the roads in order to stop traffic congestion and help with public safety, said John Pedersen, Myrtle Beach city manager.

A franchise agreement must be approved by city council each year. When it’s renewed, council members can alter the number of vehicles a business can rent, either raising or lowering the number. City council can cancel an agreement at any time.

Myrtle Beach officials added new restrictions to golf carts earlier this year requiring the vehicles to carry city-issued plates with identification numbers. Each tag costs $25 per vehicle and must be renewed yearly.

City council was supposed to address the motion during the Dec. 12 council meeting, put pushed the issue to a later agenda.

In November, the city council renewed efforts to limit the number of golf cart and moped rentals, if police think there are too many vehicles on the road during a given day.

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Should golf cart owners register with the DMV and pay a fee?."