City gives golf carts, UTVs green light
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New ordinances based on requests from local citizens
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Golf carts and utility-type vehicles may be legally driven on the streets of Aurora as of Monday, based on citizen requests that led to unanimous votes of the Aurora City Council at its May 27 meeting.
Two agenda items prompted considerable discussion, which included questions from patrons in the audience on ordinances which have reportedly been adopted by cities and villages of equal or smaller size in recent years. The two new ordinances went into effect Monday, June 2, outlining the rules and regulations for operating both golf carts and UTVs on city streets.
“We’ve had requests over the years and we reached out to numerous communities and just kind of picked their brains on their experiences,” reported Adam Darbro, the city’s utility superintendent. “The ones we talked to said that they had very little issue, if any, and they were the same size as us, if not bigger. Things may need to change over time, but this is where we felt comfortable starting.”
That starting point invites Aurora residents interested in using a new form of transportation on city streets to complete a golf cart/UTV registration form, which they can pick up in person at City Hall or download from the city’s website. That form will document the name, address, driver’s license and birth date of the applicants, all of whom must be 20 years of age to be eligible. In addition, applicants will need certification from the Aurora Police Department that their golf cart and/or UTV meets the following four criteria:
* Working headlines, tail lights and brake lights;
* Working turn signals (if equipped) or applicant must demonstrate knowledge of the proper use of hand signals;
* A safety flag, extending not less than seven feet above the ground or one foot above the canopy or roof, and attached to rear of vehicle;
* An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) muffler, excluding after-market products, without modification.
The “Operation” portion of the registration form explains that golf carts and UTVs can only be operated between the hours of sunrise and sunset, owners must provide minimum liability insurance coverage and that operation on any highway that is part of the state highway system is prohibited.
“They can’t drive on any highways,” Darbro emphasized. “They can cross 90 degrees on a highway.”
Golf carts will be limited to 20 miles per hour, with UTVs allowed to go up to 30 mph or the posted speed limit, whichever is less. It was also noted at the meeting that Nebraska’s all-terrain vehicle and utility-type vehicle laws will apply to operators driving on city streets. (See related article)
An annual registration fee of $100 will be required, due each year on Jan. 1. Those funds will be collected by the city and deposited into its general fund.
Residents wanting to have their golf carts and UTVs inspected are advised that they need to not drive the vehicle to the Law Enforcement Center, but rather bring it on a trailer or contact the Aurora Police Department to arrange a time to have an officer come to their home.
Editor’s note: A document explaining golf cart/UTV operations, equipment requirements, registration information, accident reporting procedures and penalties for violation is posted on the ANR website -- auroranewsregister.com
Q&A
Several people in the audience asked questions during the council’s discussion, with Paul Johnson inquiring as to why the city set the age limit at 20 when state law allows high school students to drive with unlimited passengers.
“That is what everybody felt comfortable with, excluding high schoolers from trying to deck them out and take them to school,” Darbro responded. “Now we’re not saying we can’t revise this in the future. We’ll probably run into things that we’re going to be like, we should have looked at that. This is where they felt comfortable to start with.”
There was also brief discussion about what regulations apply to driving these vehicles on city streets, which was explained in a later email by City Attorney Ross Luzum.
“The operators of golf carts and UTV’s under the City Code Ordinances are still subject to the Nebraska Rules of the Road as it relates to seat belt requirements and child seat regulations,” Luzum said. “I would also add that if an operator of a golf cart or UTV is operating the vehicle in such a manner that endangers a minor child then other state statutes may be triggered such as child abuse/neglect, careless driving, reckless driving, willful reckless driving, just depending on the circumstances.”
Luzum also noted that if a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion that an operator of a golf cart or UTV is underaged, they may be stopped.
Community requests
Three people in attendance at the meeting have been working with city officials for quite some time, lobbying in support of the city adopting ordinances allowing golf carts and UTVs. All three voiced support and appreciation for the city’s action after the meeting.
“We’ve been working on it about two years now,” said Bruce Hall. “We did some periodic checking with Rick Melcher and then Adam Darbro got involved. We got some traction where we got some other ordinances from surrounding towns, but then it kind of stalled out.”
Hall, who owns Mulligan Man in Aurora, a K Street business which sells and services golf carts, said he and Kerry Meyer, who sells and services UTVs as co-owner of Advanced Motorsports, reached out to long-time Aurora resident Mike Nelson, who was happy to get involved.
“We needed someone like Mike to be down there every week asking questions of where we’re at,” Hall said. “He said ‘Challenge accepted’ and he was down here every week, asking where we’re at. He kind of took on the challenge and got the ball rolling. I give him a ton of credit.”
“I was just the guy making the phone calls,” Nelson commented.
Hall and Meyer reported hearing numerous requests from city residents wondering why Aurora did not allow such modes of transportation when other communities do, including villages in Hamilton County.
“The thing I hear a lot, especially about golf carts, not so much about side-by-sides, is how it connects a community,” Hall said. “If someone is driving down the street on a golf cart and you’re sitting on the porch, there’s a likelihood you’re going to yell at them and they’re going to stop and talk to you. I’ve noticed it in Hampton, in Hordville and Central City, where somebody drives by when I’m delivering a cart and next thing you know there are four carts sitting there and people are talking. That’s not what we were trying to achieve, but it’s an added bonus.”
Meyer clarified that the ordinance allows utility-type vehicles, not all-terrain vehicles, commonly referred to as 4-wheelers.
“It’s not an ATV,” he said. “There’s a big difference between an ATV and a UTV and the ATVs are not allowed. An ATV is a single-seater where UTVs are more of a multi-seat utility vehicle. That’s definitely a big thing that people need to know. There will be no ATV’s at this point. As of right now it’s going to be golf carts and UTVs only.”
Meyer said he is pleased with the city response to the community’s requests.
“It’s been a good thing,” he said. “After talking to all the other cities that we’ve talked with, they have very little trouble with it. I think you’ll see a mad rush at the beginning and then it’s going to be simple after that.”
Other action
In other action during the May 27 meeting, the council:
* approved the second reading of an ordinance to annex the Ohlson Acres subdivision into the city limits;
* approved a request by Courtney Richardson, representing Snackology, to place three seven-foot picnic tables outside of the business located at 1014 12th St., all year long;
* approved the reappointment of Jeff Bart and Wayne Brehm to the Aurora Planning Commission.
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