Just curious about street legal golf carts
 

I know its legal. I know it is desirable by some folks. But making no judgements about it, I am just curious why it is legal to take golf carts to 'street legal' status. They seem so vulnerable and unsafe. And we have all the cart paths that already go most places. Please enlighten me.

Probably for convenience in getting from point "A" to "B" quicker... among other reasons.

You can't make a golf cart street legal. They are either street legal or not. You can, I believe, make a street legal non-street legal though. I'm like you though. I see no need for a street legal golf cart.

Street Legal Carts
 

You can now make any cart street legal, even gas. Before it could only be electric but that changed about 3 months ago. Gas can now be made street legal. DMV has the procedures.

The overwhelming majority of the roads in TV are shared amongst cars, trucks, golf carts, and street legal carts. And because street legal carts have additional required safety enhancements not usually found on standard golf carts, they are actually a little safer than regular carts when driven on the streets of TV.

They may be a little safer than regular carts, but what is the reason they are allowed on the streets with car traffic? There has to be a reason this was all debated, thought out, and made legal. Still confused.

I guess you can say the same thing about other forms of transportation a motorcycle comes to mind. If the law allows it and you choose to have and use a street legal cart, why not? Yes they may not be as safe as a "car" but some cars are also safer than others. A gem or a Smart car doesn't look safe to me and I wouldn't drive either of those but people choose to and why not.

The street legals have a number of advantages... they are faster so you can go from Lopez to Brownwood in a lot less time, you can cross some of the major highways to shopping centers not accessable by regular carts, there ar extra features such as wipers and seat belts, plus, some people just want to say they own a street legal cart.

One thing I have wondered about the GC usage in TV.

Do you carry P&C insurance like a car? Use on street or those special lanes in TV for carts, bicycles, etc.

Now I’m a little confused. Are you saying that because regular golf carts can drive on the streets of TV, you think it raises them to “Street Legal” status? It doesn’t.

Also street legal vehicles must be registered and carry Personal Injury Protection just like an automobile (runs around $450/yr). Golf carts in TV are not even if the are driven on TV streets.

Why do it? One great reason is to avoid the fate of his person:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...vehicle-75432/

So many golf carts now in TV. I have "felt" that the golf cart trails were much safer than a street legal golf cart on an allowable St.(35mph or less) but I am not sure that is now the case. In the seven years we have lived in TV, the golf cart traffic has increased tremendously on the golf cart trails and remember you don't need a drivers license to drive a golf cart on the trails. When I see children (maybe 11or 12 years old) driving a golf cart on the trails----Boy Howdy! Street Legals are not just for TV----many municipalities now allow Street Legal Golf Carts. Maybe seat belts should be required standard equipment and used on all golf trails in TV. On the other hand "government exists to protect us from each other, where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. Ronald Regan

If I understand this thread:

1. A golf cart can drive on certain streets as long as they do 20 mph or less.

2. If a cart wants to do up to 35 mph, it should be classified as a street legal and must be registered/insured.

Both can drive on streets but one is much faster. When receiving a ticket, does one have to pay a heavy fine if this cart is geared toward street legal as in the other thread?