Ludington City Council expected to pass ORV, golf cart ordinances

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Council is expected to pass proposed ORV and golf cart ordinances during its regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. Two separate ordinances are being proposed. If passed, the city will follow the majority of townships in Mason County and the City of Scottville, for allowing restricted use of the off-road vehicles on public roadways.

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.

The meeting will take place at City Hall, 400 S. Harrison Street.