Over the years, Public Safety officers have stopped and warned folks for illegally operating golf carts on campus and advised them of S.C. Law governing golf cart operations.  However, violations continue to occur. Supervisors, as well as employees, violate traffic laws when driving golf carts. They undoubtedly feel golf carts are exempt from rules of the roadway.  The following laws apply to golf cart operations on campus:

• Section 56-1-10 Definitions:

"Driver"  means every person who drives or is in actual physical control  of a motor vehicle.

• "Operator" means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle.

  Section 56-3-20 Definitions:

  "Vehicle" Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.

• "Motor Vehicle" Every vehicle which is self-propelled, except mopeds, and every vehicle which is propelled by electronic power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.

Section 56-1-20 states, "No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless such person has a valid motor vehicle driver's license issued to him.

Section 56-5-730 / Obedience To Traffic Laws

It is unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to disregard traffic laws.

Section 56-5-3835 / Driving On Sidewalks

No person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway.

 

NOTE:

Public Safety solicits those who drive golf carts to operate them as if they were driving a car. Additionally,it's imperative for management to "set the example" and to insure their employees are briefed.

Public Safety has been tasked to protect people and property on campus.  Tehrefore, I have directed close enforcement of the traffic rules and laws governing golf cart operation.  Driving without a drivers license, disregarding stop signs, driving on sidewalks, driving the wrong way on one-way streets, etc., will be recorded on S.C. Uniform Traffic Citations with disposition in Magistrate's Court.  Fines and drivers license points will be assessed if convicted. Additionally, the violator risks his/her personal insurance policy premiums increasing in cost.

\Director of Public Safety