While cruising in the salty air is a great way to enjoy all that 30A has to offer, there are a few things to keep in mind when renting a golf cart in Walton County, Florida. “Golf carts would impede traffic if they drove on roads at higher speeds,” Hogeboom said. “The car would not be able to keep up, and any higher speed would be dangerous.” When it comes to low-speed cars that are legal on the road, Adkinson said complaints arise when the vehicle, which is legal at 35 miles per hour, hits the road and the driver wants to drive 15 miles an hour to secure traffic behind him. Believe it or not, golf carts are not approved in all 30A communities. If you`re staying in Seaside, Rosemary or Seacrest, good golf carts are only approved for visitors with a mobile handicap. You will need to submit documents and have the car rented and approved by the associated HOA. (Seacrest itself is anyone who has access to the lagoon pool and us under the jurisdiction of Seacrest HOA. The route between Prominence and Alys does not have this restriction The golf cart must be equipped with headlights, taillights, turn signals, rearview mirror, windshield, reflectors, parking brakes, seat belt and registered label. When tourists come to South Walton, most only know they`re on the beach and start enjoying their time here without thinking too much about the laws, like those for golf carts. Florida law states that anyone with a valid driver`s license can drive a “low-speed vehicle.” According to the law, people over the age of 16 who have a valid driver`s license can then drive a golf cart with road approval. However, it gets a little more complicated if you use a golf cart homologated for the road during your stay. Most homeowners, private homes and neighborhoods are required to respect the restrictions regarding the insurance they wear. Therefore, they have their own age restrictions and most owners/companies do not allow drivers under the age of 21.
The following 30A communities follow county regulations, so you can rent and drive a golf cart in these areas: Blue Mountain Beach, Dune Allen Beach, Grayton Beach, Inlet Beach, Seacrest Beach, and Seagrove Beach. Other 30A private communities have their own policies, which means you may or may not be allowed to drive a golf cart. These include: Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seaside, WaterColor and WaterSound. If you rent a vacation home in one of these municipalities, check with your golf cart rental company for some rules regarding golf carts. However, the exception to these laws is low-speed vehicles that look like golf carts. These low-speed vehicles must be registered, have seat belts, lights and license plates. Remember that your rental manager will know if renting an LSV is allowed in your area. Here you will find more information about holiday communities that do not allow golf carts.
What is the best way to get around during a beach holiday? If you had to say golf cart, then you`d be right! Not only are golf carts open from all sides so you can feel the coastal breeze, but they`re also much easier to park than a car. They are environmentally friendly and it is easy to load your beach equipment into these outdoor vehicles at low speeds. If you visit 30A, you`ll probably see a lot of vacationers and locals moving around in golf carts. And chances are you want one too. To be considered a vehicle approved for the road, the car must have functional headlights, taillights and turn signals. The vehicle must also be equipped with a rear-view mirror, a windscreen, reflectors, a parking brake and seat belts. An up-to-date license plate must be attached to the rear of the vehicle at all times. Golf carts are allowed on county-maintained roads, where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. Now, some streets in South Walton are maintained by the county, while others are privately maintained.
Private roads follow their own regulations. Luckily, there`s an easy way to find out what kind of road you`re on. Green traffic signs indicate a road maintained by the county, while blue traffic signs indicate a private road. Golf carts can be driven on any road maintained by the county as long as the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. State law states that the county can determine whether it is safe for golf carts to work on sidewalks next to roads or county roads if it is determined that others can safely share the sidewalk. These golf carts are limited to a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour and are only allowed on sidewalks if sidewalks are at least 8 feet wide. South Walton`s sidewalks are not that wide. To be homologated for the road, your low-speed vehicle must be registered with license plates. It is also required to have seat belts, headlights, taillights, turn signals, reflectors, windshield, rearview mirror and parking brake. In other words, the golf cart must be safe for the roads! Guests staying in Watersound can only have a golf cart if it already comes with the accommodation they rent. Cars must be registered with Watersound neightborhood and rental cars are not allowed.
According to Florida state law, a golf cart cannot be used by a person under the age of 14 on public roads or roads. There are holiday homes in every neighborhood along 30A. Most of them are privately maintained and have their own rules for golf carts and low-speed vehicles. Please check with your vacation rental management company for the specific rules and regulations of your neighborhood before renting an LSV. If you`ve been to 30A, you`ve definitely seen people driving on golf carts. If you haven`t rented yourself yet and want to add this benefit to your list, there`s something you`ll want to know. Here`s what you need to know if you`re using a legal golf/LSV cart on the road along the 30a. For more information, see waltonso.org/lsv/.
Exceptions to these laws are private roads in resorts like Sandestin, which allow golf carts on their roads. “Then vacationers get off from anywhere and they see carts on the road and they think it`s legal, so they start driving theirs on the road without knowing the difference between a golf cart and a low-speed vehicle,” he said. “People don`t like it, just like they don`t like bikers on the road. But the law allows it. At least once a day, we receive a call about it. » Make sure that the road-approved golf/LSV cart is parked overnight in an authorized parking lot. Naturewalk does not allow street parking, landscaped parking, overnight parking at Gathering Place, and the NatureWalk HOA will tow illegally parked golf carts. According to Florida Law 316.2122, “anyone who drives a low-speed vehicle or mini-truck must have a valid driver`s license.” Street Legal golf carts are considered vehicles and, therefore, each driver must have a valid driver`s license and proof of auto insurance. Corey Dobridnia, walton County sheriff`s public information officer, referred to state law, which governs the operation of golf carts on the roads. Renting a 30A golf cart is easy if you know the law.
Low-speed vehicles or LSVs are allowed on county-maintained roads that have a speed limit of 35 mph or less. These include 30A! We all know what a speed limit sign looks like, but for you, do you know how to distinguish between a county-maintained road and a private road? Simple! All county road signs are GREEN, while a privately maintained road has a BLUE sign. Many rental apartments at NatureWalk come with LSV or legal golf carts on the road, but before you hop on and take a ride, be sure to familiarize yourself with the rules of all counties and the neighborhood. Neighborhood Watch reports any illegal use and violation of neighborhood rules by LSVs to law enforcement, which may result in a quote/or loss of use! This should go without saying, but you need to follow all the rules of the road when driving a legal golf cart on the road at Naturewalk and along 30A.
