City passes permanent ORV, golf cart ordinance.

#MasonCountyNews #Ludington

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — The Ludington City Council passed an ORV and a golf cart ordinance during its regular meeting Monday night , both by the vote of 5-1. See related story here.

A temporary one year ordinance was passed in July 2015. Councilor Gary Castonia reported that there have been no complaints or problems with the ordinance. In 2015, the ordinance passed 4-3 with councilors Dick Rathsack, Kathy Winczewski, and Mike Krauch voting no. The permanent ordinance was passed 5-1 with Krauch voting no. Councilor Rathsack was absent.

Krauch re-stated his objections to the ordinance citing safety concerns. 

Councilor Kathy Winczewski said the ordinance can always be modified.

Some of the highlights of the ORV ordinance include:

ORVs may be operated from May 1 to October 31 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from November 1 to April 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

No person under the age of 12 shall operate an ORV.

A person under the age of 18 shall not operate an ORV unless the person is in possession of a valid driver’s license or under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian and the person has in his or her possession an ORV safety certified issued pursuant to part 811 of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Protection Act or a comparable ORV safety certificate issued under the authority of another state or a province of Canada.

All ORV operators 18 years of age and older shall have a valid driver’s license in their possession.

ORVs shall travel single file except that an ORV may travel abreast of another ORV when it is overtaking or passing or being overtaken and passed by another ORV.

ORVs shall display lighted headlight and lighted taillight at all times.

ORVs shall travel with the flow of traffic on the far right of the maintained portion of the street in a manner that does not interfere with traffic on the street.

Passengers are only allowed on vehicles built for passengers.

ORVs are not allowed to operate on state trunklines such as U.S. 10 (Ludington Avenue and South James Street) and M-116 (Ludington Avenue and Lakeshore Drive), except to cross the street.

Violations are subject to a fine of $500.

More details are available in the actual ordinance.

Highlights of the golf cart ordinance include:

A person must at least be 16-years-old  and possess a driver’s license.

Golf carts must be operated as near to the right side of the road as possible.

Carts are not allowed on sidewalks.

Golf carts are not allowed to operate on state trunklines such as U.S. 10 (Ludington Avenue and South James Street) and M-116 (Ludington Avenue and Lakeshore Drive), except to cross the street.

Golf carts must be registered with the Ludington Police Department and receive a registration sticker.

More details are available in the actual ordinance.