Golf Carts & Similar Vehicles

Overview

Using a golf cart or similar type vehicle on many City streets is allowed, but there are rules and regulations which are listed in detail below. But here's a quick overview:

Not ALL 4-wheeled vehicles are allowed
Those vehicles can only be operated on designated streets (view the interactive map for details)
Driver's must have a valid driver's license
No passengers under the age of four (4) are allowed
Use is limited to daylight hours only
No driving on sidewalks, hiking trails, or biking trails
There is required equipment for these vehicles

Please read the detailed rules and regulations below for complete information or read the City Ordinance regarding these vehicles.

Vehicles Allowed

Golf Carts

A motor vehicle designed by the manufacturer primarily for transporting persons on a golf course. It must have a minimum of four wheels and has an attainable top speed not greater than 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface and which is manufactured primarily for transporting persons on a golf course and in compliance with those federal motor vehicle safety standards for low-speed vehicles.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV)

Also includes Low Speed Vehicles "LSV"

A vehicle that can attain a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour on a paved level surface and otherwise complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500; Low-Speed Vehicles. This standard specifies requirements for low-speed vehicles. A low-speed vehicle is a four-wheeled motor vehicle, other than a truck, whose attainable speed is more than 32 km/h (20 mph) and not more than 40 km/h (25 mph). The standard requires ten specific items of safety equipment. ** Has a normal maximum speed of 20—25 mph (LSV) or 20—35 mph (NEV).

Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROV)

A vehicle equipped with a seat or seats for the use of the rider and a passenger or passengers, if the vehicle is designed by the manufacturer to transport a passenger or passengers. Also designed to propel itself with four or more tires in contact with the ground, designed by the manufacturer for off-highway use by the operator only, and not designed by the manufacturer primarily for farming or law care.

Utility Task Vehicles (UTV)

A vehicle that has side by side seating for the operator and passenger, has four or more tires, is designed for off-highway use, and is designed by the manufacturer for utility work and not for recreational purposes.

Vehicles NOT ALLOWED

The following types of vehicles are not allowed on New Braunfels streets according to the ordinance approved by New Braunfels City Council:

All Terrain Vehicles (ATV's)

A vehicle equipped with a seat or seats for the use of the rider and a passenger (if the motor vehicle is designed by the manufacturer to transport a passenger), designed to propel itself with three or more tires in contact with the ground, designed by the manufacturer for off-highway use, not designed by the manufacturer primarily for farming or lawn care, and not more than 50 inches wide.

Sand Rail Vehicle

A vehicle designed or built primarily for off-highway use in sandy terrains, that has a tubular frame, has an integrated roll cage, has an engine that is rear-mounted or placed midway between the front and rear axles, has a gross vehicle weight between 700 and 2,000 pounds.

If you need more information about specific vehicle types, call the City of New Braunfels at (830) 221-4100 or view City Ordinance concerning golf carts and neighborhood vehicles.

General Guidelines

Golf carts, NEV's, ROV's, and UTV's are permitted to be operated on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less, with the exception of the following:

Common Street from Gruene Road to FM 306
W. County Line Road
Landa Street from Wald Road to Spring Hills Drive
McQueeney Road
Walnut Avenue from Landa Street to W. Klein Road
Business 46 located between Coll St. and Walnut Ave
A parking area
Any street in the state highway system, regardless of the speed limit, including Farm-to-Market Roads located within the corporate boundaries of the city. A state highway system includes, but is not limited to, Interstate Highway 35, Loop 337, FM 725, Business 35, FM 1044, FM 758, FM 1101, FM 306, FM 1102, FM 482, FM 2722, SH 46 and Business 46 (excluding Business 46 located between Coll St. and Walnut Ave).

View this interactive map to see where you can and cannot drive a golf cart.

Clarifications

A golf cart may not drive across intersections where the cross street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
NEV's, ROV's, and UTV's may drive across intersections where the cross street has a posted speed limit of more than 45 miles per hour, even if the cross street is otherwise a prohibited street.
Nighttime driving of golf carts, NEV's, ROV's, and UTV's is prohibited. These vehicles can only be driven during the daytime.
An operator of an approved vehicle may only drive a distance of up to five (5) miles from the location where the vehicle is usually parked.

Golf Carts

Must be equipped at a minimum, with the following equipment as mandated by the V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 551.404(b), as amended, and/or required by the city to operate on permitted locations:

Operational Headlamps
Operational Tail Lamps
Operational Horn
Side Reflectors
Operational Parking Brake
Rearview Mirror(s)

A golf cart that is operated at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour shall display a "slow-moving-vehicle emblem" as defined by V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 547.703. Equipment and its installation and maintenance must meet standards provided by the Texas Transportation Code, as amended.

NEV's, ROV's, & UTV's

These vehicles must be equipped with the following equipment as mandated by V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 551.301, as amended, and/or required by the city, to operate on permitted locations:

Operational Headlamps
Operational Tail Lamps
Side Reflectors
Operational Parking Brake
Rearview Mirror(s)
Turn Signals
Operational Horn
Brake Lights
Seat Belts
Windshield
Vehicle Identification Number

Equipment and its installation and maintenance must meet standards provided by the Texas Transportation Code, as amended.

License Plates and Insurance

License plates are generally required but there are limited exceptions. For license plates, it depends where the golf cart is being driven. The Texas Transportation Code, Section 551.403 Subsection (b) provides that “a person may operate a golf cart in a master planned community described by Subsection (a) without a golf cart license plate on a highway for which the posted speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour, including through an intersection of a highway for which a posted speed limit is more than 35 mph.” Otherwise, golf carts must display a license plate if operated on roads authorized by the city or county. The authorized roads must have a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less.

Insurance is required. The local ordinance requires insurance when operated on public roads in the city limits. State law does not require it, however, it also does not prevent cities from requiring insurance in a local ordinance if a city decides to restrict operation of golf carts to certain roads, which we have.

Exempt Off-Highway Vehicles

Exempt vehicles must have the following safety equipment:

Affix an eight-foot pole on back with orange triangle flag
Headlamps illuminated while operated
Tail lamps illuminated while operated
Brake system
Muffler system maintained in good operating condition
U.S. Forest Service spark arrester
Off-highway vehicle decal from Texas Parks & Wildlife

Insurance

Driver/Operator Regulations

Be licensed to operate a motor vehicle as provided by V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 521.021, as amended, and carry a valid driver's license as provided by V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 521.025, and all state law driver's license permissions and restrictions shall apply to the operation of a golf cart or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
Abide by all state and local traffic regulations applicable to vehicular traffic
Use standard hand signals for turning during daylight if the operator's golf cart is not equipped with turn signals
Not operate or park on a sidewalk or hike and bike trails at any time
Not use the vehicle to pull any object or person at any time
Not exceed the seating capacity of the vehicle as designed by the manufacturer
Remain seated at all times while the vehicle is in motion and ensure the same for passengers. Passengers can be issued a citation for not remaining seated while vehicle is moving
Not have or permit a passenger younger than four years of age
Maintain financial responsibility as defined in V.T.C.A., Transportation Code § 601.051
Not intentionally or knowingly allow an unlicensed operator to operate the vehicle

Penalties

In addition to traffic violations for which the owner or driver of the golf cart or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle may be subject to pursuant to state law, any person who violates this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine as follows:

First offense shall have a minimum fine of $100.00 and a maximum fine of $500.00
- However, having or permitting a passenger under the age of four (4) has a minimum fine of $250.00 for the first offense.
Second offense and subsequent offenses shall have a minimum fine of $500.00

Each day's violations shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. Any prior conviction under this article will count towards a second and third charge regardless of when it occurred.