At the Dec. 17 Keller City Council meeting, city officials unanimously approved a local ordinance regulating the vehicles. Previously, the city’s rules on golf carts mirrored Texas state law.

The new golf cart regulations went into effect immediately after the Dec. 17 meeting, although enforcement from police over the new ordinance won’t begin until Feb. 1.

The details

Golf cart operators in Keller will now be allowed to drive their vehicles within all residential neighborhoods, regardless of whether they are part of a home owners association, and residents will be able to operate their golf carts on roads with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or lower as long as they’re traveling to or from the golf course.

Operating a golf cart is now limited to the day time in Keller, according to the ordinance.

Considering traffic volumes, visibility, speed and crash trends, as well as the availability of a shoulder on the road, officials have prohibited the use of golf carts in certain parts of the city, according to a post by Keller’s public safety Facebook account.

Operating a golf cart has been prohibited on the following roads:

• Bancroft Road
• Bourland Road (from Johnson Road to Mt. Gilead Road)
• Fawkes Lane
• Johnson Road (from Bluebonnet Drive to Pearson Lane)
• Keller Smithfield Road
• Knox Road
• Melody Lane
• Main Street (Hwy. 377)
• Mt. Gilead Road
• North Pearson Lane
• North Tarrant Parkway (from Willis Lane to Cat Mountain Trail)
• Ottinger Road (from Keller Smithfield Road to Westlake)
• Pate Orr Road
• Rapp Road
• Roanoke Road
• Rufe Snow Drive (from Keller Parkway to Johnson Road)
• Shady Grove Road
• South Elm Street
• Whitley Road

What they’re saying

Keller Police Chief Bradley G. Fortune told council members during an Oct. 15 meeting that the ordinance was, in part, intended to minimize the potential for crashes.

“There are certain roadways that we feel are unsafe for people to be operating the golf course on,” Fortune said.

Zooming out

Golf carts still cannot be used to drive to commercial destinations in the city aside from a golf course. They are also prohibited on sidewalks and trails and must be parked in designated spots.

During the month of January, the Keller Police Department will focus its efforts on educating residents instead of enforcing the ordinance.