                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DESIGNATION OF PUBLIC HIGHWAYS FOR GOLF CART AND UTILITY VEHICLE OPERATIONS (§
46.2-916.2)

A. No portion of the public highways may be designated for use by golf carts and
utility vehicles unless the governing body of the county, city, or town in which
that portion of the highway is located has reviewed and approved such highway
usage.

B. The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance authorize
the operation of golf carts and utility vehicles on designated public highways
within its boundaries after (i) considering the speed, volume, and character of
motor vehicle traffic using such highways and (ii) determining that golf cart
and utility vehicle operation on particular highways is compatible with state
and local transportation plans and consistent with the Commonwealth&#8217;s
Statewide Pedestrian Policy provided for in &#xA7; 33.2-354.

C. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, no town that has not
established its own police department, as defined in &#xA7; 9.1-165, may
authorize the operation of golf carts or utility vehicles. The provision of this
subsection shall not apply to the Towns of Claremont, Clifton, Dendron,
Irvington, Ivor, Jarratt, Saxis, Stony Creek, Urbanna, or Wachapreague.

D. No public highway shall be designated for use by golf carts and utility
vehicles if such golf cart and utility vehicle operations will impede the safe
and efficient flow of motor vehicle traffic.

E. The county, city, or town that has authorized the operation of golf carts or
utility vehicles shall be responsible for the installation and continuing
maintenance of any signs pertaining to the operation of golf carts or utility
vehicles. Such county, city, or town may include in its ordinance for
designating highways the ability to recover its costs of the signs and
maintenance pertaining thereto from organizations, individuals, or entities
requesting the designations. The cost of installation and continuing maintenance
of any signs pertaining to the operation of golf carts or utility vehicles shall
not be paid by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

F. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, employees of the
Department of Conservation and Recreation may operate golf carts and utility
vehicles on those portions of public highways located within Department of
Conservation and Recreation property and on Virginia Department of
Transportation-maintained highways that are adjacent to Department of
Conservation and Recreation property, provided the golf cart or utility vehicle
is being operated on highways with speed limits of no more than 35 miles per
hour.

HISTORY: 2004, c. 746; 2006, c. 728; 2008, c. 196; 2009, cc. 68, 504; 2011, c.
469; 2012, c. 9; 2013, c. 64; 2014, c. 69; 2017, c. 357; 2019, c. 104; 2022, c.
449; 2023, c. 451.