AB 2073: Golf carts: City of La Verne.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2016-07-25
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 excepts the City of La Verne from the construction of separated golf cart lanes if that city makes specified findings and the street and highway segments meet certain requirements. For the purposes of these provisions applicable to the City of La Verne, golf cart includes a utility style golf cart, used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart.
This bill would make certain existing definitions of golf cart not applicable for the purposes of the provisions applicable to the City of La Verne.
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 excepts the City of La Verne from the construction of separated golf cart lanes if that city makes specified findings and the street and highway segments meet certain requirements. For the purposes of these provisions applicable to the City of La Verne, golf cart includes a utility style golf cart, used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart.
This bill would make certain existing definitions of golf cart not applicable for the purposes of the provisions applicable to the City of La Verne.
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 excepts the City of La Verne from the construction of separated golf cart lanes if that city makes specified findings and the street and highway segments meet certain requirements. For the purposes of these provisions applicable to the City of La Verne, golf cart includes a utility style golf cart, used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart.
This bill would not withstand certain existing definitions of golf cart for the purposes of the provisions applicable to the City of La Verne.
(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)Notwithstanding Section 1951 of this code and Section 345 of the Vehicle Code, 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)Notwithstanding Section 1951 of this code and Section 345 of the Vehicle Code, 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 Notwithstanding Section 1951 of this code and Section 345 of the Vehicle Code, 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.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Apr 28, 2016 | Referred to Com. on T. & H. |
| Jul 25, 2016 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 101, Statutes of 2016. |
| Jul 25, 2016 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Jul 11, 2016 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m. |
| Jun 30, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 4644.). |
| Jun 30, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Jun 30, 2016 | In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling. |
| Jun 16, 2016 | Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar. |
| Jun 15, 2016 | From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 14). |
| Feb 17, 2016 | Read first time. To print. |
| Apr 7, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 4230.) |
| Apr 7, 2016 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| Apr 7, 2016 | In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. |
| Apr 6, 2016 | Read second time. Ordered to third reading. |
| Apr 5, 2016 | From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 4). |
| Feb 29, 2016 | Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and L. GOV. |
| Feb 18, 2016 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 19. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 30, 2016 | Consent Calendar 2nd AB2073 Holden | Senate Floor |
Passed |
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| Jun 14, 2016 | Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Housing |
Passed |
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| Apr 7, 2016 | AB 2073 HOLDEN Assembly Third Reading | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Apr 4, 2016 | 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 Police Department | ** Support | Apr 4, 2016 |
| Hillcrest Retirement Community | ** Support | Apr 4, 2016 |
| Leading Age California | * Support | Apr 4, 2016 |
| University of La Verne | ** Support | Apr 4, 2016 |
Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) 327-4478 | AB |
CONSENT
Bill No: AB 2073
:
SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 11-0, 6/14/16
AYES: Beall, Cannella, Allen, Bates, Gaines, Galgiani, Leyva, McGuire, Mendoza, Roth, Wieckowski
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-0, 4/7/16 - See last page for vote
DIGEST: This bill allows for the use of oversized golf carts as part of the City of La Verne’s golf cart transportation plan.
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.
This bill expands the definition of “golf cart” in the City of La Verne to include utility-style golf carts and shuttle-style golf carts for use within the area included in their golf cart transportation plan.
Background
History of La Verne and golf carts. 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 mobile home parks, three large retirement communities, and a university of about 2,500 students.
Golf carts have been authorized for use on certain city streets in La Verne since 2009. The original authorizing legislation sunset on January 1, 2016; this was intended to allow time for the university and retirement communities to transition to safer vehicles which meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Because of the historic use of golf carts by the retirement communities and the university, La Verne was exempted from the requirement to have separate golf cart lanes. However, La Verne was still required to develop a golf cart transportation plan and subject to several additional safety restrictions, including:
- Limiting the golf carts to streets with speed limits of not more than 25 miles per hour.
- Limiting the golf carts to streets immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the university or a retirement community.
- Requiring the law enforcement agency with primary traffic jurisdiction to approve the street segments.
- Limiting the authority to golf carts owned by the university or retirement community and equipped with a windshield, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts.
- Limiting the golf cart usage to employees of the university or retirement community within the scope of employment of the university or retirement community.
In 2015, the sunset was eliminated in AB 173 (Holden, Chapter 65, Statutes of 2015), allowing La Verne to permanently permit the use of golf carts, a change in the policy articulated in the original legislation.
This bill revises the definition of “golf cart” for purposes of La Verne by authorizing the use of vehicles which are larger and heavier than the typical two-person golf cart. These include vehicles which can transport as many as eight people, as well as larger flatbed vehicles. While these vehicles have apparently been used for years, this bill legitimizes their use.
Recent experience indicates no problems. The La Verne Police Chief indicates there have been no issues with these vehicles. As these vehicles wear out, he expects that they will be replaced with larger street-legal neighborhood electric vehicles.
Comments
Purpose. The author seeks to revise his bill from last year, which eliminated the sunset on La Verne’s authority to permit golf carts on specified city streets under specified conditions, by expanding the definition of “golf cart” to include larger vehicles. This would allow the continued use of oversized golf cart-like vehicles, according to the author.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
City of LaVerne Police Department
Hillcrest
University of LaVerne
OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/17/16)
None received
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 77-0, 4/7/16
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Atkins, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Chang, Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Quirk, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Rendon
NO VOTE RECORDED: Campos, Levine
6/17/16 15:03:37
**** END ****
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
Senator Jim Beall, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: Hearing Date: 6/14/2016
Author: | Holden | ||
Version: | 2/17/2016 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | No |
Consultant: | Randy Chinn | ||
SUBJECT:
DIGEST: This bill allows for the use of oversized golf carts as part of the City of La Verne’s golf cart transportation plan.
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.
This bill expands the definition of “golf cart” in the City of La Verne to include utility-style golf carts and shuttle-style golf carts for use within the area included in their golf cart transportation plan.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose of bill. The author seeks to revise his bill from last year, which eliminated the sunset on La Verne’s authority to permit golf carts on specified city streets under specified conditions, by expanding the definition of “golf cart” to include larger vehicles. This would allow the continued use of oversized golf cart-like vehicles, according to the author.
- History of La Verne and golf carts. 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 mobile home parks, three large retirement communities, and a university of about 2,500 students.
Golf carts have been authorized for use on certain city streets in La Verne since 2009. The original authorizing legislation sunset on January 1, 2016; this was intended to allow time for the university and retirement communities to transition to safer vehicles which meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Because of the historic use of golf carts by the retirement communities and the university, La Verne was exempted from the requirement to have separate golf cart lanes. However, La Verne was still required to develop a golf cart transportation plan and subject to several additional safety restrictions, including:
- Limiting the golf carts to streets with speed limits of not more than 25 miles per hour
- Limiting the golf carts to streets immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the university or a retirement community
- Requiring the law enforcement agency with primary traffic jurisdiction to approve the street segments
- Limiting the authority to golf carts owned by the university or retirement community and equipped with a windshield, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts
- Limiting the golf cart usage to employees of the university or retirement community within the scope of employment of the university or retirement community
In 2015, the sunset was eliminated via AB 173 (Holden, Chapter 65, Statutes of 2015), allowing La Verne to permanently permit the use of golf carts, a change in the policy articulated in the original legislation.
This bill revises the definition of “golf cart” for purposes of La Verne by authorizing the use of vehicles which are larger and heavier than the typical two-person golf cart. These include vehicles which can transport as many as eight people, as well as larger flatbed vehicles. While these vehicles have apparently been used for years, this bill legitimizes their use.
- Recent experience indicates no problems. The La Verne Police Chief indicates there have been no issues with these vehicles. As these vehicles wear out, he expects that they will be replaced with larger street-legal neighborhood electric vehicles.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 77-0
Trans: 16-0
Related Legislation:
AB 173 (Holden, Chapter 65, Statutes of 2015) — deleted the 2016 sunset on the authority of the City of La Verne to permit golf carts to be used on city streets thereby continuing the authority indefinitely.
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, 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. This bill was vetoed by the Governor.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,
June 8, 2016.)
SUPPORT:
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
City of La Verne Police Department
Hillcrest
University of La Verne
OPPOSITION:
None received
-- END --
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
ATR Bill Id:AB 2073
Author:(Holden)
As Introduced Ver:February 17, 2016
Majority vote
Committee | Votes | Ayes | Noes |
Transportation | 16-0 | Frazier, Linder, Baker, Bloom, Brown, Chu, Daly, Dodd, Eduardo Garcia, Gomez, Kim, Mathis, Medina, Melendez, Nazarian, O'Donnell |
SUMMARY: Allows for the use of utility- and shuttle-style golf carts as part of the City of La Verne's golf cart transportation plan.
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.
- Provides that 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 specified conditions are met.
- Authorizes 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.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: According to the author, it recently came to the attention of the City of La Verne that the utility- and shuttle-style golf carts that have been in use for many years do not comply with the definition of a golf cart and, therefore, are not in compliance for use under the city's golf cart transportation plan. To ensure that the City of La Verne can continue to use these vehicles, the author has introduced this bill to clarify that these vehicles are authorized for use pursuant to the plan.
Golf cart use on highways is generally prohibited because variable speeds among vehicles are a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents. Furthermore, by definition, golf carts travel at speeds of 20 mph or below and 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.
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 added the requirement that certain safety features be added to golf carts used in the City of La Verne (windshield, taillights, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts) and allowed for the use of golf carts only on certain roadways until January 1, 2016, to give users time to transition to low-speed electric vehicle use.
Since the passage of AB 963, golf cart users in the City of La Verne claimed that low-speed electric vehicles were not well suited to the city's narrow roadways. To address concerns that the sunset date for the golf cart transportation plan was approaching and golf cart users in the City of La Verne had not yet converted to low-speed electric vehicle use, AB 173 (Holden), Chapter 65, Statutes of 2015, was passed by the Legislature deleting the 2016 sunset on the authority of the City of La Verne to use golf carts on city streets, thereby continuing the authority indefinitely.
According to the author, while AB 173 was pending the Governor's signature, CHP noted that some of the golf carts used in the area do not meet the definition of a golf cart (weighing less than 1,300 pounds and designed to carry not more than two persons including the driver). Specifically, CHP was referring to the utility-style golf carts that exceed 1,300 pound weight limit and the shuttle-style golf carts that exceed the 1,300 pound weight limit and carry up to eight passengers. According to the author, these vehicles are commonly used by the university as well as retirement communities in the city to carry people and equipment. Despite their frequent use, local police department records indicate that there have been no recorded accidents or injuries stemming from the use of utility- or shuttle-style golf carts on public roadways in the city. Because these vehicles provide important utility to the community, the author is seeking to add these vehicles to the type of golf carts that can be utilized pursuant to the city's golf cart transportation plan.
Please see the policy committee analysis for full discussion of this bill.
Analysis Prepared by: Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0002693
Date of Hearing: April 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Jim Frazier, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2073 (
Author:Holden) – As Introduced Ver:February 17, 2016
SUBJECT: Golf carts: City of La Verne
SUMMARY: Allows for the use of utility- and shuttle-style golf carts as part of the City of La Verne's golf cart transportation plan.
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.
- Provides that 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 specified conditions are met.
- Authorizes 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.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown, this bill is keyed non-fiscal by the Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: According to the author, it recently came to the attention of the City of La Verne that the utility- and shuttle-style golf carts that have been in use for many years do not comply with the definition of a golf cart and, therefore, are not in compliance for use under the city's golf cart transportation plan. To ensure that the City of La Verne can continue to use these vehicles, the author has introduced this bill to clarify that these vehicles are authorized for use pursuant to the plan.
The City of La Verne is a small municipality, with a population of 31,000 residents, located in California's San Gabriel Valley whose transportation grid was originally developed with very narrow streets surrounded by farm land. Although the agricultural land has been developed, streets in the City of 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 with 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.
Golf cart use on highways is generally prohibited because variable speeds among vehicles is a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents. Furthermore, by definition, golf carts travel at speeds of 20 mph or below and 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.
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 added the requirement that certain safety features be added to golf carts used in the City of La Verne (windshield, taillights, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts) and allowed for the use of golf carts only on certain roadways until January 1, 2016, to give users time to transition to low-speed electric vehicle use.
Since the passage of AB 963, golf cart users in the City of La Verne claimed that low-speed electric vehicles were not well suited to the city's narrow roadways. To address concerns that the sunset date for the golf cart transportation plan was approaching and golf cart users in the City of La Verne had not yet converted to low-speed electric vehicle use, AB 173 (Holden), Chapter 65, Statutes of 2015, was passed by the Legislature deleting the 2016 sunset on the authority of the City of La Verne to use golf carts on city streets, thereby continuing the authority indefinitely.
According to the author, while AB 173 was pending the Governor's signature, CHP noted that some of the golf carts used in the area do not meet the definition of a golf cart (weighing less than 1,300 pounds and designed to carry not more than two persons including the driver). Specifically, CHP was referring to the utility-style golf carts that exceed 1,300 pound weight limit and the shuttle-style golf carts that exceed the 1,300 pound weight limit and carry up to eight passengers. According to the author, these vehicles are commonly used by the university as well as retirement communities in the city to carry people and equipment. Despite their frequent use, local police department records indicate that there have been no recorded accidents or injuries stemming from the use of utility- or shuttle-style golf carts on public roadways in the city. Because these vehicles provide important utility to the community, the author is seeking to add these vehicles to the type of golf carts that can be utilized pursuant to the city's golf cart transportation plan.
Committee comments: AB 2073 is one of a series of bills that incrementally allows the City of LaVerne to continue their existing practice of using golf carts on public roadways alongside motor vehicles. AB 963 first authorized the use of golf carts on certain roadways until 2016 to allow the city time to convert to NEV's use. As the 2016 deadline approached, the City of LaVerne had not converted to NEV use claiming that NEVs were too large to be accommodated on the city's roadways. It should be noted that immediately after the passage of AB 173, which allowed indefinite use of golf carts, the city is now requesting an exemption that would allow for the use certain golf carts that are nearly identical in size and configuration to NEVs.
Related legislation: AB 2736 (Chu) makes non-substantive amendments to provisions related to golf cart transportation plans. AB 2736 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Assembly Rules Committee.
Previous legislation: AB 173 (Holden), Chapter 65, Statutes of 2015, deleted the 2016 sunset on the authority of the City of La Verne to permit golf carts to be used on city streets thereby continuing the authority indefinitely.
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
City of La Verne Police Department
Hillcrest Retirement Community
University of La Verne
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
Discussed in Hearing
5MIN
Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):