Deer Park city streets will get a little more crowded after the Deer Park City Council approved a plan to make golf carts a legal form of municipal transportation.

The council approved the plan last week by a 3-1 vote (Councilwoman Dee Cragun dissenting and Councilman Randy Bean absent from the meeting).

Under the guidelines, the electric golf carts (gas powered carts are still illegal) cannot go any faster than 25 mph and must be operated by a person with a valid driver’s license. The number of people allowed to ride in the cart will be limited by the manufacturer’s guidelines for the vehicle.

The carts cannot be operated on Main Street or Crawford Avenue except at intersections to cross from one side to the other. Those without state-approved lighting systems cannot run between 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes before the next sunrise.

Some city councilmembers tried to eliminate the need for seatbelts on the vehicle, but state law prohibits municipalities from waiving the requirement. The carts will also have to adhere to child safety seat rules.

Tags: Fore! Golf carts to join city traffic