BILL REQ. #:  S-3956.1 

Read first time 01/24/12.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to golf cart zones; and amending RCW 46.08.175.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 46.08.175 and 2010 c 217 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislative authority of a city or county may by ordinance or resolution create a golf cart zone, for the purposes of permitting the incidental operation of golf carts, as defined in RCW 46.04.1945, upon a street or highway of this state having a speed limit of twenty-five miles per hour or less.
     (2) Every person operating a golf cart as authorized under this section is granted all rights and is subject to all duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle under chapter 46.61 RCW.
     (3) Every person operating a golf cart as authorized under this section must be at least sixteen years of age and must have completed a driver education course or have previous experience driving as a licensed driver.
     (4) A person who has a revoked license under RCW 46.20.285 may not operate a golf cart as authorized under this section.
     (5) The legislative authority of a city or county may ((prohibit any person from operating a golf cart as authorized under this section at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise)) set other operational requirements including, but not limited to, setting the hours that a golf cart may be operated in the golf cart zone.
     (6) The legislative authority of a city or county may require a decal or other identifying device to be displayed on golf carts authorized on the streets and highways of this state under this section. The city or county may charge a fee for the decal or other identifying device.
     (7) The legislative authority of a city or county may prohibit the operation of golf carts in designated bicycle lanes that are within a golf cart zone.
     (8) Golf carts must be equipped with reflectors, seat belts, and rearview mirrors when operated upon streets and highways as authorized under this section. However, the legislative authority of a city or county may require additional equipment beyond what is listed in this subsection.
     (9) A city or county that creates a golf cart zone under this section must clearly identify the zone by placing signage at the beginning and end of the golf cart zone on a street or road that is part of the golf cart zone. The signage must be in compliance with the department of transportation's manual on uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways.
     (10) Accidents that involve golf carts operated upon streets and highways as authorized under this section must be recorded and tracked in compliance with chapter 46.52 RCW. The accident report must indicate that a golf cart operating within a golf cart zone is involved in the accident.