St. Johns, Michigan, is one of more than two dozen communities in the state to pass ordinances regulating golf carts on public roads.

Saint Johns

St. John's, a small city in Michigan, has seen a significant increase in residents using golf carts as an alternative to cars for local transportation. In response, city officials have introduced regulations to address safety concerns, including mandatory inspections, speed limits, and restrictions on which roads golf carts can use.

The new rules require drivers to be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driver's license. Golf carts are now only permitted on streets with speed limits of 25 miles per hour or lower, and the carts themselves are limited to a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour. These measures reflect a broader trend in Michigan and other communities across the United States, where golf carts are becoming a popular lifestyle choice beyond the golf course.

Why a Michigan town is regulating its golf cart boom

In Iron America, we look for trends around the country, and we found one in the home state of the big three automakers. In a small city northwest of Detroit, golf carts are replacing cars as the vehicle of choice, forcing that city to crack down. As Mark Strassman reports, cart drivers no longer have carte blanche. For someone with zero interest in golf, Kathy Kochinsbarger sure loves her golf cart. We're thankful that they finally passed the ordinance. She bought it as a family cruiser. Do you drive it in town? Yep. How often? Usually every evening. You've got to pay attention when you go out. Oh, definitely. I mean, you've got to be aware of your surroundings, people, and, you know, other vehicles. St. John's, Michigan, is aware its surroundings are changing. In this city of roughly 8,000 people, golf carts motor side by side with everyday traffic. St. John's started regulating them last month. One of hundreds of communities across the country. Why did you feel as though they needed to be regulated? It's about safety. Mayor Scott DeZerka told us St. John's has roughly 200 golf carts used primarily for transportation. Heaven forbid something happens on one of them. If that golf cart gets in a wreck, it's pretty disastrous. In Michigan alone, safety is the primary reason why more than two dozen communities have passed ordinances regulating golf carts on public roads. It's got the headlights, taillights, seatbelts. It'll go 25 miles an hour. It's got the sound bar. Michael Fagan owns a booming golf cart business. He told us golfers represent only 5 percent. The big seller, lifestyle. And even year round, because we put snow plows on them, salt spreaders. You know, people are looking at me goofy when I say that, but we probably sell 15 to 20 snow plows a year. Ed Phelan's a safety first kind of guy. He lives in St. John's and opposes golf carts mixing with cars. If a cart hits a car, the golf cart is just going to lose. There's nothing there to protect the people in the golf cart. St. John's just started inspecting golf carts similar to cars. And by law now, Kathy Kochensperger can drive her cart only on streets where the speed limit is 25 miles an hour or lower. Her golf cart speed limit, 15 miles an hour. Drivers in St. John's also have to be at least 18 and hold a valid driver's license. You feel safe in one. Oh, definitely. Definitely, I do. I wouldn't take my grandkids on it if I didn't. Golf carts used to lead to chipping and putting. Now it's all about the drive. For Eye on America, I'm Mark Strassman in St. John's, Michigan.

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