Why are golf carts street legal in neighborhoods but ATVs are not?

[red324]

How come I can't drive my four wheeler, but everyone is allowed to drive these golf carts all over? Back when I grew up, dont even think the golf carts were allowed. Now I live in a more rural area, and cops dont really care if you only stay on the 30 mph back roads, but in this case im talking about urban neighborhoods

[KostasKouvalis]

Golf carts aren't either. At least not where I live, but since there used to be a golf course here, no one enforced it, as long as they only drove them within the boundaries of the neighborhood. They're only legal if you make a bunch of modifications to them. Like they have to have a license plate, seat belts, a slow moving vehicle sticker and a bunch of other stuff. You can't really do that to an ATV.

Even in my state park the rangers never cared, but then some drunken idiot drove a golf cart off a cliff, so now they don't allow them inside the park unless they're street legal.

[shish_kebab]

Interesting question and I just looked into it. It's all about your evil gas-powered atv. Trade it in for a Polaris electric and you're good to go.
Although, even golf carts are restricted to some secondary roads and must only go 25 miles an hour, have seat belts, a rear view mirror and reflectors.
So basically you're being discriminated against. Racist! 🛺

[red324]

golf carts are gas too. In fact, most are probably all gas powered that I see riding around.

[shish_kebab]

It's the opposite where I live. 99.9% of all golf carts are electric. If I were you I would just find a cop and ask why golf carts get a pass and ATVs don't

[Agape93]

They're four wheeled and classed like cars, so their lack of crash protection is one reason. Coupled with usually no mirrors, lights or turn signals etc. Is why

[DryGermanGuy]

Which of them is registered and has insurance? That's what the state/DMV wants to see.

[red324]

Neither are.

[DryGermanGuy]

That's weird. Is there a written statement from the local admin about this?

[exitseven]

as far as I know golf carts are not legal on public roads. Then there is the whole issue about insurance.

[strateguy632]

golf carts are not legal on public road.

[NaultD]

Turn signals and license plate.