MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2020 Regular Session

To: Local and Private Legislation

By: Representative Crawford

House Bill 1468

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 909, LOCAL AND PRIVATE LAWS OF 2013, TO CLARIFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES OF THE CITY OF PASS CHRISTIAN, MISSISSIPPI, THAT ALLOWS THE OPERATION OF LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND GOLF CARTS WITHIN THE CITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 909, Local and Private Laws of 2013, is amended as follows:

     Section 1.  As used in this act, unless a different meaning clearly appears in the context, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

          (a)  "City" means the City of Pass Christian, Mississippi.

          (b)  "Governing authorities" means the Mayor and * * *City Council Board of Aldermen of the City of Pass Christian, Mississippi.

          (c)  "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle that is designated and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of twenty (20) miles per hour and is equipped with the safety equipment as required under 49 CFR Section 571.500. 

          (d)  "Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric or gasoline powered vehicle that has a top speed greater than twenty (20) miles per hour but less than twenty-five (25) miles per hour and is equipped with safety equipment as required under 49 CFR Section 571.500.

     Section 2.  (1)  The governing authorities * * * of the City of Pass Christian, Mississippi, may, in their discretion, by ordinance, * * * in their discretion, authorize the operation of low-speed vehicles and golf carts only on public roads and streets * * * that are within the Timber Ridge Subdivision Golf Course area, being generally bounded on the south by West North Street and the east by Henderson Avenue with a speed limit of twenty-five (25) miles per hour or less in the city.  Such authorization must be embodied in an ordinance and recorded in the minutes of the city.  Such authorization may be accompanied by conditions not inconsistent with this act and may be revoked, in whole or part, by the governing authorities at any time.

     (2)  Any person operating a low-speed vehicle or golf cart on the public roads and streets under this act must have in his or her possession a valid driver's license or temporary driver's permit and proof of * * * financial responsibility insurance as required under Section 63-15-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

     (3)  * * * Low‑speed vehicles and golf carts may only be operated on public streets in the Timber Ridge Subdivision if the operator is traveling the shortest possible travel distance between his or her residence and the nearest other public road or street authorized for use by low‑speed vehicles and/or golf carts, cart path or golf course cart path and during daylight hours only Golf carts and low-speed vehicles may not be operated on interstate highways or highways as designated by the comprehensive plan of the city except for the crossing of these streets, in which case the shortest traveling distance to do so shall be required.  Drivers are required to operate golf carts and low-speed vehicles only in the outside lane of multi-lane streets and roads, when applicable.

 * * * (4)  Low‑speed vehicles and golf carts may not be operated in the other areas of the City of Pass Christian, and they may not cross or travel on Henderson Avenue or West North Street or any public streets outside the Timber Ridge Subdivision Golf Course area.

(5)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, when operated by a person participating in a parade permitted by the City of Pass Christian, low‑speed vehicles and golf carts may be operated on the permitted route of the parade while participating in the parade and are not restricted to the contiguous Timber Ridge Subdivision public streets and thoroughfares.

     Section 3. (1)  * * * Every Any person operating a low-speed vehicle * * * and or golf cart to be operated * * *, as authorized under this act * * *, on a public road or street shall be required to register the vehicle with the city * * * of Pass Christian.  * * * Upon payment of a reasonable fee that may be charged by the city to cover the costs of administration, a map and a sticker and presentation of proof of financial responsibility and presentation of a valid driver's license or temporary driving permit, the owner of the low‑speed vehicle or golf cart shall be issued a registration decal by the county or municipal tax collector city clerk that must be displayed on the left rear fender of the vehicle The owner of the low-speed vehicle or golf cart shall be issued a registration decal by the city that must be displayed as determined by the city.  The registration shall remain valid for as long as the registering owner owns the low-speed vehicle or golf cart.  * * * The city shall provide the registrant with a map of the contiguous Timber Ridge Subdivision area where low‑speed vehicles and golf carts may be operated at the time of registration.  The operator shall be required to have proof of * * * financial responsibility insurance and a valid driver's license in his or her possession at all times while operating the low-speed vehicle or golf cart on public roads and streets of the * * * state city.

     (2)  * * * The registration fee imposed under subsection (1) of this section shall be retained by the tax collector and deposited into the county or municipal general fund, as the case may be. The city may, by ordinance, establish a registration fee for low-speed vehicles and golf carts.  The registration fee shall be retained by the municipal clerk and deposited into the municipal general fund.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.