§297.1. Alternative pathways for golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles; Golden Meadow

            A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

            (1) "Golf cart" means a four-wheeled vehicle originally intended for use off-road on golf courses and other green spaces whose maximum speed is twenty-five miles per hour.

            (2) "Governing authority" means the town council of the town of Golden Meadow, Louisiana.

            (3) "Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric or gasoline powered vehicle that has a top speed greater than twenty miles per hour but less than twenty five miles per hour and is equipped with headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, reflex reflectors, including one on each side as far to the rear as practicable, and one red reflector on the rear of the vehicle, an exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or an interior mirror, a parking brake, a windshield that conforms to the American National Standard Institute's "Safety Code for Safety Glazing Material for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways - Safety Standard", a windshield wiper, speedometer, odometer, braking for each wheel, a seat belt assembly installed at each designated seating position, and a vehicle identification number.

            (4) "Town" means the town of Golden Meadow, Louisiana.

            (5)(a) "Utility terrain vehicle" means any recreational motor vehicle designed for and capable of travel over designated roads, with a minimum width of fifty inches but not exceeding seventy-four inches and a minimum weight of at least seven hundred pounds but not exceeding three thousand five hundred pounds. "Utility terrain vehicle" shall include those vehicles not equipped with a certification label as required by 49 CFR 567.4. A "utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV" also means a recreational off-highway vehicle or ROV.

            (b) "Utility terrain vehicle" does not include golf carts, vehicles specially designed to carry a disabled person, or vehicles otherwise registered under R.S. 32:299.

            B.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governing authority of Golden Meadow may, in its discretion, by ordinance authorize the operation of golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles only on the shoulder of a public road and street, except for Louisiana Highway 3235, having a speed limit of thirty miles or less per hour. The authorization shall be contained in an ordinance and recorded in the minutes of the governing authority. The authorization may be accompanied by conditions not inconsistent with this Section and may be revoked, in whole, or in part, by the governing authority at any time.

            (2) Any person operating a golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed vehicle on the shoulder of a public road or street in the town pursuant to this Section shall be properly licensed to operate a vehicle upon any highway within this state and shall have in his possession proof of insurance as required by Part I-A of Chapter 5 of this Title.

            C.(1) Every golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, and low-speed vehicle operated pursuant to this Section shall be required to be registered with the governing authority. The owner of the golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed vehicle shall be issued a registration decal by the governing authority that must be displayed as determined by the governing authority. The registration shall remain valid for as long as the registering owner owns the golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed vehicle.

            (2) The governing authority may, by ordinance, establish a registration fee for golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles. The registration fee shall be retained by the municipal clerk and deposited into the municipal general fund.

            Acts 2025, No. 203, §1; Acts 2026, No. 554, §1.