New Law Requires Seatbelts on Golf Carts for Kids on S.C. Roads

By: Jessica Holdman/S.C. Daily Gazette

A new state law lets cities set their own rules for where and when golf carts can be driven on South Carolina’s roadways but requires a new rule for passengers: Children under 12 must buckle up.

As initially proposed, the bill authorized any county to pass an ordinance allowing golf carts with headlights and rear lights to be driven at night. The purpose was to expand on permission that a 2016 law gave only to certain barrier islands.

But the Senate took it further — letting municipalities “stipulate the hours, methods, and locations” for daylight golf cart driving too and adding statewide the safety rule for children.

“I unfortunately have had the misfortune of seeing too many kids maimed and killed on golf carts,” said Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto. “It’s awful.”

The Orangeburg Democrat works as an attorney and has handled such cases as part of his law practice.

“When you see golf carts go by and there are kids sitting on the back of these golf carts that are not in a seat belt, you know good and well if they slam on the brakes those kids going right off the back and maybe right in front of the car that’s following them,” Hutto said during floor debate in the Senate earlier this month.

Sen. Ronnie Cromer agreed, telling his fellow senators he had seatbelts installed in his wife’s custom-built golf cart.

“I have seen kids at the beach that are riding on the back of those carts. How the parents were holding them in, I don’t know,” the Prosperity Republican said. “So I think that’s a pretty good idea to force people to put seat belts on.”

The seat belt rule came up as part of a larger debate about how South Carolina handles the recreational carts, which can be driven during daylight hours with a permit on any public road where the speed limit is 35 mph or less.

Drivers must be at least 16 years old and have a driver’s license.

State law previously limited their usage to within 4 miles of the address where they’re registered or within 4 miles of a gated community’s entrance. However, local governments could reduce the allowed routes to 2 miles.

The new law leaves that distance entirely up to local governments. The 4-mile rule stays intact for anywhere without its own ordinance.

“In the past, we’ve created exceptions … and it became sort of this patchwork quilt of golf cart regulations,” said Sen. Greg Hembree.

Rather than continuing down that path, the Little River Republican instead urged legislators to overhaul the law, setting minimum standards but also giving all local governments the ability to enact tougher restrictions that go beyond what’s in state law.

“Every community is a little different,” he said. “Every community has its own unique dangers or areas that are safer. And it’s more appropriate for that local government to make those decisions.”

For example, towns might have certain areas where they don’t want to allow golf carts to be used at all, Hembree said.

“And quite frankly, under this bill, a local government could regulate them out of existence in a community,” he said.

The legislation passed both the House and Senate with almost no opposition. Gov. Henry McMaster signed it into law last Thursday. It took effect immediately.

The South Carolina Daily Gazette is a nonprofit news site providing nonpartisan reporting and thoughtful commentary. We strive to shine a light on state government and how political decisions affect people across the Palmetto State.