AB 173: Golf carts: City of La Verne.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2015-07-13
Existing law authorizes a local agency to designate a highway under its jurisdiction, generally not to exceed one mile in length, that is located adjacent to, or provides access to, a golf course and related facilities, for the combined use of regular vehicular traffic and golf carts. Existing law also authorizes a city or county to adopt a golf cart transportation plan, under which separated golf cart lanes are to be developed and constructed in the plan area. Existing law, until January 1, 2016, provides an exemption from the separated golf cart lane requirement for street and highway segments in the City of La Verne that, among other requirements, have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less and are immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community, if the city council makes specified findings.
This bill would delete the January 1, 2016, termination date applicable to the provisions relating to the City of La Verne, thereby making those provisions operative indefinitely.
Existing law authorizes a local agency to designate a highway under its jurisdiction, generally not to exceed one mile in length, that is located adjacent to, or provides access to, a golf course and related facilities, for the combined use of regular vehicular traffic and golf carts. Existing law also authorizes a city or county to adopt a golf cart transportation plan, under which separated golf cart lanes are to be developed and constructed in the plan area. Existing law, until January 1, 2016, provides an exemption from the separated golf cart lane requirement for street and highway segments in the City of La Verne that, among other requirements, have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less and are immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community, if the city council makes specified findings.
This bill would delete the January 1, 2016, termination date applicable to the provisions relating to the City of La Verne, thereby making those provisions operative indefinitely.
Existing law authorizes a local agency to designate a highway under its jurisdiction, generally not to exceed one mile in length, that is located adjacent to, or provides access to, a golf course and related facilities, for the combined use of regular vehicular traffic and golf carts. Existing law also authorizes a city or county to adopt a golf cart transportation plan, under which separated golf cart lanes are to be developed and constructed in the plan area. Existing law, until January 1, 2016, provides an exemption from the separated golf cart lane requirement for street and highway segments in the City of La Verne that, among other requirements, have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less and are immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community, if the city council makes specified findings.
This bill would delete the January 1, 2016, termination date applicable to the provisions relating to the City of La Verne, thereby making those provisions operative indefinitely.
(a)If a city or county adopts a golf cart transportation plan, it shall do both of the following:
(1)Establish minimum general design criteria for the development, planning, and construction of separated golf cart lanes, including, but not limited to, the design speed of the facility, the space requirements of the golf cart, and roadway design criteria.
(2)In cooperation with the department, establish uniform specifications and symbols for signs, markers, and traffic control devices to control golf cart traffic; to warn of dangerous conditions, obstacles, or hazards; to designate the right-of-way as between golf carts, other vehicles, and bicycles; to state the nature and destination of the golf cart lane; and to warn pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists of the presence of golf cart traffic.
(b)The construction of separated golf cart lanes, as required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), does not apply in any of the following locations:
(1)A residence district, as defined in Section 515 of the Vehicle Code, located within any city containing a population of less than 50,000 residents with a geographical area of more than 20 square miles in which city there are at least 20 golf courses, if the speed limit in that district is 25 miles per hour or less.
(2)(A)The City of La Verne, on those street and highway segments for which the city council makes a finding that the street or highway segment is suitable to safely permit the use of regular vehicular traffic and also the driving of golf carts, and makes a separate finding that the construction of separated golf cart lanes is infeasible given the physical space limitations of the street or highway segment. In addition, these street or highway segments shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less, as established by an engineering and traffic survey.
(ii)Be immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community.
(iii)Provide a route between unconnected portions of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community, or provide direct access to an otherwise inaccessible portion of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community.
(iv)Be approved for purposes of this paragraph by the law enforcement agency with primary traffic jurisdiction over the street or highway segments.
(v)Accommodate golf carts without adversely impacting traffic safety or the travel needs of commuters and other users, according to a safety determination made by a traffic engineer.
(vi)Be limited to golf carts owned by the university or retirement community and equipped with a windshield, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts.
(vii)Limit the use of golf carts to employees of the university or retirement community acting within the scope and course of employment for the maintenance or security of the university or the retirement community.
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, golf cart includes, but is not limited to, a utility style golf cart, used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart.
(a)If a city or county adopts a golf cart transportation plan, it shall do both of the following:
(1)Establish minimum general design criteria for the development, planning, and construction of separated golf cart lanes, including, but not limited to, the design speed of the facility, the space requirements of the golf cart, and roadway design criteria.
(2)In cooperation with the department, establish uniform specifications and symbols for signs, markers, and traffic control devices to control golf cart traffic; to warn of dangerous conditions, obstacles, or hazards; to designate the right-of-way as between golf carts, other vehicles, and bicycles; to state the nature and destination of the golf cart lane; and to warn pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists of the presence of golf cart traffic.
(b)The construction of separated golf cart lanes, as required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), does not apply in any of the following locations:
(1)A residence district, as defined in Section 515 of the Vehicle Code, located within any city containing a population of less than 50,000 residents with a geographical area of more than 20 square miles in which city there are at least 20 golf courses, if the speed limit in that district is 25 miles per hour or less.
(2)(A)The City of La Verne, on those street and highway segments for which the city council makes a finding that the street or highway segment is suitable to safely permit the use of regular vehicular traffic and also the driving of golf carts, and makes a separate finding that the construction of separated golf cart lanes is infeasible given the physical space limitations of the street or highway segment. In addition, these street or highway segments shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less, as established by an engineering and traffic survey.
(ii)Be immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community.
(iii)Provide a route between unconnected portions of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community, or provide direct access to an otherwise inaccessible portion of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community.
(iv)Be approved for purposes of this paragraph by the law enforcement agency with primary traffic jurisdiction over the street or highway segments.
(v)Accommodate golf carts without adversely impacting traffic safety or the travel needs of commuters and other users, according to a safety determination made by a traffic engineer.
(vi)Be limited to golf carts owned by the university or retirement community and equipped with a windshield, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts.
(vii)Limit the use of golf carts to employees of the university or retirement community acting within the scope and course of employment for the maintenance or security of the university or the retirement community.
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, golf cart includes, but is not limited to, a utility style golf cart, used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart.
(a)If a city or county adopts a golf cart transportation plan, it shall do both of the following:
(1)Establish minimum general design criteria for the development, planning, and construction of separated golf cart lanes, including, but not limited to, the design speed of the facility, the space requirements of the golf cart, and roadway design criteria.
(2)In cooperation with the department, establish uniform specifications and symbols for signs, markers, and traffic control devices to control golf cart traffic; to warn of dangerous conditions, obstacles, or hazards; to designate the right-of-way as between golf carts, other vehicles, and bicycles; to state the nature and destination of the golf cart lane; and to warn pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists of the presence of golf cart traffic.
(b)The construction of separated golf cart lanes, as required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), does not apply in any of the following locations:
(1)A residence district, as defined in Section 515 of the Vehicle Code, located within any city containing a population of less than 50,000 residents with a geographical area of more than 20 square miles in which city there are at least 20 golf courses, if the speed limit in that district is 25 miles per hour or less.
(2)(A)The City of La Verne, on those street and highway segments for which the city council makes a finding that the street or highway segment is suitable to safely permit the use of regular vehicular traffic and also the driving of golf carts, and makes a separate finding that the construction of separated golf cart lanes is infeasible given the physical space limitations of the street or highway segment. In addition, these street or highway segments shall meet all of the following requirements:
(i)Have speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less, as established by an engineering and traffic survey.
(ii)Be immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community.
(iii)Provide a route between unconnected portions of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community, or provide direct access to an otherwise inaccessible portion of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community.
(iv)Be approved for purposes of this paragraph by the law enforcement agency with primary traffic jurisdiction over the street or highway segments.
(v)Accommodate golf carts without adversely impacting traffic safety or the travel needs of commuters and other users, according to a safety determination made by a traffic engineer.
(vi)Be limited to golf carts owned by the university or retirement community and equipped with a windshield, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts.
(vii)Limit the use of golf carts to employees of the university or retirement community acting within the scope and course of employment for the maintenance or security of the university or the retirement community.
(B)For purposes of this paragraph, golf cart includes, but is not limited to, a utility style golf cart, used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart.
(C)This paragraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2016.
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Date
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Status
|
|---|---|
| Jun 11, 2015 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Jul 13, 2015 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 65, Statutes of 2015. |
| Jul 13, 2015 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Jul 1, 2015 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2:30 p.m. |
| Jun 29, 2015 | Enrolled measure version corrected. |
| Jun 23, 2015 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Jun 22, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 1550.). |
| Jun 22, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Jun 17, 2015 | Ordered to special consent calendar. |
| Jan 22, 2015 | Read first time. To print. |
| Jun 10, 2015 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 9). |
| May 7, 2015 | Referred to Com. on T. & H. |
| Apr 6, 2015 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 771.) |
| Apr 6, 2015 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Mar 25, 2015 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Mar 24, 2015 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (March 23). |
| Feb 2, 2015 | Referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Jan 23, 2015 | From printer. May be heard in committee February 22. |
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Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2015 | Special Consent #3 AB173 Holden By Liu | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jun 9, 2015 | Do pass | Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Housing |
Passed |
|
| Apr 6, 2015 | AB 173 HOLDEN Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Mar 23, 2015 | Do pass. | Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| City of La Verne Fire Department | ** Support | Jun 9, 2015 |
| City of La Verne Police Department | ** Support | Jun 9, 2015 |
| Hillcrest - A Remarkable Retirement Community® | * Support | Mar 23, 2015 |
| Hillcrest Retirement Community | ** Support | Jun 9, 2015 |
| LeadingAge California | * Support | Jun 9, 2015 |
| San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership | ** Support | Jun 9, 2015 |
| University of La Verne | * Support | Jun 9, 2015 |
| University of La Verne, Office of the President | ** Support | Mar 23, 2015 |
AB 173
Page 3
|
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 |
THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 173
Introduced: 1/22/15
SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 10-0, 6/9/15
AYES: Beall, Cannella, Bates, Gaines, Galgiani, Leyva, McGuire, Mendoza, Roth, Wieckowski
NO VOTE RECORDED: Allen
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 4/6/15 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Golf carts: City of La Verne
SOURCE: Hillcrest Retirement Community
University of La Verne
DIGEST: This bill deletes the sunset on the authority of the City of La Verne to permit golf carts to be used on city streets.
Existing law:
Authorizes cities or counties to adopt golf cart transportation plans that do not include the use of any state highway.
Specifies certain required elements in the golf cart transportation plan, including minimum general design criteria for the development, planning, and construction of separated golf cart lanes.
Exempts the City of La Verne from the requirement for separated golf cart lanes, under specified conditions, until January 1, 2016.
This bill removes the January 1, 2016, sunset.
Comments
Purpose. The author notes that La Verne is home to the University of La Verne as well as a large retirement community. Because of the town’s narrow roads and pathways, these facilities began using golf carts as the primary means of transportation between the non-contiguous portions of their facilities in the 1970s. In 2008, the Legislature provided La Verne with an exemption to the general statewide prohibition on golf cart use on public roadways. The author states that the La Verne Police Department has recorded no accidents or injuries stemming from the use of golf carts on public roads by the university or retirement community since the exemption has been in effect.
Not widely used. La Verne has restricted the use of golf carts to employees of the university and retirement communities. The police chief of La Verne reports that the golf carts are not frequently used and that he sees them on the street on a less-than-daily basis.
Course change. The January 1, 2016, sunset on the use of golf carts in the City of La Verne was intended to allow time for the university and retirement communities to transition to safer vehicles which meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. By eliminating the sunset, the City of La Verne will be permanently allowed to permit the use of golf carts, a change in the policy articulated in the original legislation. In support of this policy change, the author’s office notes that there have been no accidents with the golf carts, a fact confirmed by the La Verne police department.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
Hillcrest Retirement Community (co-source)
University of La Verne (co-source)
City of La Verne Fire Department
City of La Verne Police Department
LeadingAge California
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/11/15)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 4/6/15
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins
NO VOTE RECORDED: Gomez, Roger Hernández
Prepared by: Randy Chinn / T. & H. / (916) 651-4121
6/12/15 11:27:49
**** END ****
AB 173 (Holden) Page 3 of 3
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
Senator Jim Beall, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 173 Hearing Date: 6/9/2015
Author: |
Holden |
||
Version: |
1/22/2015 |
||
Urgency: |
No |
Fiscal: |
No |
Consultant: |
Randy Chinn |
||
SUBJECT: Golf carts: City of La Verne
DIGEST: This bill deletes the sunset on the authority of the City of La Verne to permit golf carts to be used on city streets.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
Defines “golf carts” as motor vehicles weighing less than 1,300 pounds, designed to operate at not more than 25 miles per hour, and designed to carry not more than two persons.
Authorizes cities or counties to adopt golf cart transportation plans that do not include the use of any state highway. A crossing of, or a golf cart lane along, a state highway may be included in the plan if authorized by the law enforcement agency having primary traffic enforcement responsibility.
Specifies certain required elements in the golf cart transportation plan, including minimum general design criteria for the development, planning, and construction of separated golf cart lanes.
Exempts the City of La Verne from the requirement for separated golf cart lanes, under specified conditions, until January 1, 2016.
This bill removes the January 1, 2016, sunset.
COMMENTS:
Description of La Verne. Founded in 1887, La Verne is in the foothills of the San Gabriel-Pomona Valleys. La Verne is approximately 35 miles east of Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. La Verne is a small city of 33,000 covering 8.5 square miles. It has eight mobilehome parks, three large retirement communities, and a university of about 2,500 students.
Author’s statement. The author notes that La Verne is home to the University of La Verne as well as a large retirement community. Because of the town’s narrow roads and pathways, these facilities began using golf carts as the primary means of transportation between the non-contiguous portions of their facilities in the 1970s. In 2008, the Legislature provided La Verne with an exemption to the general statewide prohibition on golf cart use on public roadways. The author states that the La Verne Police Department has recorded no accidents or injuries stemming from the use of golf carts on public roads by the university or retirement community since the exemption has been in effect.
Not widely used. La Verne has restricted the use of golf carts to employees of the university and retirement communities. The police chief of La Verne reports that the golf carts are not frequently used and that he sees them on the street on a less-than-daily basis.
Course change. The January 1, 2016, sunset on the use of golf carts in the City of La Verne was intended to allow time for the university and retirement communities to transition to safer vehicles which meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. By eliminating the sunset, the City of La Verne will be permanently allowed to permit the use of golf carts, a change in the policy articulated in the original legislation. In support of this policy change, the author’s office notes that there have been no accidents with the golf carts, a fact confirmed by the La Verne police department.
Related Legislation:
SB 241 (Bates), which passed this committee on an 11-0 vote earlier this year, would extend by five years the County of Orange’s authority to adopt a neighborhood electric vehicle transportation plan and to submit its report on the results of that plan to the Legislature. This bill is pending in the Assembly.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 78-0
Trans: 16-0
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,
June 3, 2015.)
SUPPORT:
University of La Verne (sponsor)
Hillcrest Retirement Community (sponsor)
City of La Verne Fire Department
City of La Verne Police Department
LeadingAge California
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
OPPOSITION:
None received
-- END --
AB 173
Page 2
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 173
(Holden)
As Introduced January 22, 2015
Majority vote
Committee |
Votes |
Ayes |
Noes |
Transportation |
16-0 |
Frazier, Achadjian, Baker, Bloom, Campos, Chu, Daly, Dodd, Eduardo Garcia, Gomez, Kim, Linder, Medina, Melendez, Nazarian, O'Donnell |
|
SUMMARY: Deletes the sunset date of January 1, 2016, on provisions that allow golf carts to be operated along with motor vehicles on specified highways and highway segments in the City of La Verne, thereby allowing the concurrent use indefinitely.
EXISTING LAW:
Defines a golf cart as a motor vehicle with an unladen weight less than 1,300 pounds, designed to be and operated at not more than 15 miles per hour (mph), and designed to carry golf equipment and not more than two people.
Makes it illegal to operate golf carts on streets and highways except when operated immediately adjacent to a golf course (when specific criteria are met) or in separated lanes developed based on a golf cart transportation plan.
Provides that the requirement for the construction of separated golf cart lanes does not apply to certain residence districts and certain roadway segments in the City of La Verne, provided that certain conditions are met; sunsets the exemption for golf cart use on certain roadways in the City of La Verne on January 1, 2016.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: The City of La Verne is a small municipality, with a population of 31,000 residents, located in California's San Gabriel Valley. Given the city's agricultural influence, its transportation grid was developed with very narrow streets surrounded by farm land. Although the agricultural land has been developed, streets in the City La Verne remain narrow, some not large enough to accommodate two full lanes of traffic.
The City of La Verne is home to the University of La Verne as well as several large retirement communities and associated golf courses. Because the streets in the town are narrow, residents, along with the university staff, began using golf carts as the primary means of transportation in the 1970's. When the City of La Verne learned that golf cart use on public roadways was prohibited by state law, they sought an exemption through the introduction of AB 1244 (Adams) of 2007, which would have exempted the City of La Verne from the requirement to provide separate lanes for golf carts. AB 1244 was passed by the Legislature but vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger due to safety concerns expressed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) regarding mixing faster motor vehicle traffic and slower golf cart traffic in the same travel lanes.
The following year, Assembly Member Adams addressed the CHP's concerned in subsequent legislation, AB 963 (Adams), Chapter 6, Statutes of 2008, which allowed for the use of golf carts on certain highways in the City of La Verne until January 1, 2016. According to analyses prepared for AB 963, the limited exemption was being sought to allow the City of La Verne time to transition from using golf carts to using low-speed electric vehicles, which are authorized for use on public roadways with maximum speeds of 35 mph or less.
Since the passage of AB 963 the author reports that golf cart users in the City of La Verne have discovered that low-speed electric vehicles are, in fact, not well suited to the City of La Verne's narrow roadways. Specifically, the author points out that the low-speed electric vehicles available on the market today are too large to be accommodated on the City of La Verne's roadways despite the fact that the overall size and configuration of low-speed electric vehicles has not changed substantially in decades.
To address concerns that the sunset date is approaching and the City of La Verne's golf cart users have not yet converted to low-speed electric vehicle use, the author has introduced this bill which would allow the City of La Verne to continue to use golf carts on highways indefinitely. The author claims that allowing golf cart use on the specified highways in the City of La Verne is appropriate given that the City of La Verne accident records indicate that there have been no accidents or injuries stemming from golf carts use on the specified highways since the exemption went into effect in 2009.
Golf cart use on highways is prohibited primarily to minimize variable speeds among vehicles using the same roadway since speed variation is a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents. By definition, golf carts travel at speeds of 20 mph or below and they lack the basic safety equipment required by state and federal law for street-legal motor vehicles. These features include lights, reflectors, bumpers, crash-worthy construction, seatbelts, and air bags. While existing law does require the City of La Verne to call for some safety equipment on golf carts using specified highways (windshield, taillights, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts), this equipment does not make these vehicles safe should they collide with other larger and heavier vehicles travelling at substantially higher rates of speed. Additionally, despite the fact that the City of La Verne has not experienced any accidents or injuries as a result of the exemption, it is likely eliminating the sunset could encourage other cities to seek a similar exemption thereby expanding this potentially unsafe practice.
Previous legislation: AB 963 (Adams), Chapter 6, Statutes of 2008, allowed the City of La Verne, until January 1, 2016, to designate a highway or portion thereof for use by both golf carts and motor vehicles under specified conditions.
AB 1244 (Adams) of 2007, would have exempted the City of La Verne, from the requirement to provide separate lanes for golf carts. AB 1244 was passed by the Legislature but vetoed due to concerns about the safety of mixing motor vehicle traffic and golf carts in the same travel lanes.
Analysis Prepared by: Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0000077
AB 173
Page 3
Date of Hearing: March 23, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
AB 173
(Holden) – As Introduced January 22, 2015
SUBJECT: Golf carts: City of La Verne
SUMMARY: Deletes the sunset date of January 1, 2016, on provisions that allow golf carts to be operated along with motor vehicles on specified highways and highway segments in the City of La Verne, thereby allowing the concurrent use indefinitely.
EXISTING LAW:
Defines a golf cart as a motor vehicle with an unladen weight less than 1,300 pounds, designed to be and operated at not more than 15 miles per hour (mph), and designed to carry golf equipment and not more than two people.
Prohibits golf carts from being registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as motor vehicles.
Defines a low-speed electric vehicle as having a gross vehicle weight of less than 3,000 pounds and able to attain a speed of greater than 20 mph but not more than 35 mph. Low-speed vehicles may be registered with the DMV and are permitted to operate on public roadways with speed limits up to 35 mph.
Makes it illegal to operate golf carts on streets and highways except when operated immediately adjacent to a golf course (when specific criteria are met) or in separated lanes developed based on a golf cart transportation plan.
Authorizes any city or county working in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to establish a golf cart transportation plan that includes, among other things, design criteria and construction of separated golf cart lanes.
Provides that the requirement for the construction of separated golf cart lanes does not apply to certain residence districts and certain roadway segments in the City of La Verne, provided that certain conditions are met.
Sunsets the exemption for golf cart use on certain roadways in the City of La Verne on January 1, 2016.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: The City of La Verne is a small municipality, with a population of 31,000 residents, located in California's San Gabriel Valley. Given the city's agricultural influence, its transportation grid was developed with very narrow streets surrounded by farm land. Although the agricultural land has been developed, streets in the City La Verne remain narrow, some not large enough to accommodate two full lanes of traffic.
The City of La Verne is home to the University of La Verne as well as several large retirement communities and associated golf courses. Because the streets in the town are narrow, residents, along with the university staff, began using golf carts as the primary means of transportation in the 1970's. When the City of La Verne learned that golf cart use on public roadways was prohibited by state law, they sought an exemption through the introduction of AB 1244 (Adams) of 2007, which would have exempted the City of La Verne from the requirement to provide separate lanes for golf carts. AB 1244 was passed by the Legislature but vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger due to safety concerns expressed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) regarding mixing faster motor vehicle traffic and slower golf cart traffic in the same travel lanes.
The following year, Assembly Member Adams addressed the CHP's concerned in subsequent legislation, AB 963 (Adams), Chapter 6, Statutes of 2008, which allowed for the use of golf carts on certain highways in the City of La Verne until January 1, 2016. According to analyses prepared for AB 963, the limited exemption was being sought to allow the City of La Verne time to transition from using golf carts to using low-speed electric vehicles, which are authorized for use on public roadways with maximum speeds of 35mph or less.
Since the passage of AB 963 the author reports that golf cart users in the City of La Verne have discovered that low-speed electric vehicles are, in fact, not well suited to the City of La Verne's narrow roadways. Specifically, the author points out that the low-speed electric vehicles available on the market today are too large to be accommodated on La Verne's roadways despite the fact that the overall size and configuration of low-speed electric vehicles has not changed substantially in decades.
To address concerns that the sunset date is approaching and the City of La Verne's golf cart users have not yet converted to low-speed electric vehicle use, the author has introduced this bill which would allow the City of La Verne to continue to use golf carts on highways indefinitely. The author claims that allowing golf cart use on the specified highways in the City of La Verne is appropriate given that the City of La Verne accident records indicate that there have been no accidents or injuries stemming from golf carts use on the specified highways since the exemption went into effect in 2009.
Golf cart use on highways is prohibited primarily to minimize variable speeds among vehicles using the same roadway since speed variation is a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents. By definition, golf carts travel at speeds of 20 mph or below and they lack the basic safety equipment required by state and federal law for street-legal motor vehicles. These features include lights, reflectors, bumpers, crash-worthy construction, seatbelts, and air bags. While existing law does require the City of La Verne to call for some safety equipment on golf carts using specified highways (windshield, taillights, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts), this equipment does not make these vehicles safe should they collide with other larger and heavier vehicles travelling at substantially higher rates of speed. Additionally, despite the fact that the City of La Verne has not experienced any accidents or injuries as a result of the exemption, it is likely eliminating the sunset could encourage other cities to seek a similar exemption thereby expanding this potentially unsafe practice.
Previous legislation: AB 963 (Adams), Chapter 6, Statutes of 2008, allowed the City of La Verne, until January 1, 2016, to designate a highway or portion thereof for use by both golf carts and motor vehicles under specified conditions.
AB 1244 (Adams), of 2007, would have exempted the City of La Verne, from the requirement to provide separate lanes for golf carts. AB 1244 was passed by the Legislature but vetoed due to concerns about the safety of mixing motor vehicle traffic and golf carts in the same travel lanes.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
University of La Verne (Sponsor)
City of La Verne
City of La Verne Fire Department
City of La Verne Police Department
Hillcrest
LeadingAge California
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
University of La Verne, Office of the President
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
Discussed in Hearing
6MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Housing
1MIN
Assembly Floor
7MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):
