North Dakota Golf Cart Laws
North Dakota is a large and spacious state with many elements of pure beauty highlighting it and its many areas.
As a result, you may want to get out on back roads as much as possible to check out some rather beautiful scenery.
If you do, you may be interested in riding a golf cart or a low-speed vehicle.
This option is a good one if you fully understand the laws and rules dictating their usage.
Don’t Neglect the Federal Regulations
Currently, the federal government does not restrict golf cart use on state or local highways.
Though they have laws dictating how they can be used on their roads, they allow state and local officials to dictate how they handle these vehicles.
This type of freedom is offered to all of the states in the country, which gives them the capacity to create individualized regulations that work for them.
That’s because the federal government does not consider golf carts a motor vehicle.
They cannot travel above 20 miles per hour, as manufactured, and fall under state restrictions.
That said, federal law does not allow slow-moving vehicles – like golf carts – or low-speed cars on their highways.
However, they do set up specific restrictions on low-speed vehicles that states must follow properly.
Therefore, you need to pay attention to these upgrades to ensure that your cart is considered a low-speed vehicle.
These upgrades include features such as headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and a vehicle identification number or VIN.
When you fully upgrade your cart in this way, it should be road-legal in states that allow low-speed vehicle use.
That said, many states still allow limited use of golf carts on their roads.
Often, states give control of this factor over to the local authorities.
However, most still have restrictions and regulations that must be taken into account.
Remember: state and city law cannot be less strict than federal rules.
They must meet the minimums put forth by the federal government and can then create additional restrictions.
These smaller governments cannot create laws that contradict or bypass those by the federals.
North Dakota State Laws on Golf Carts
State law for North Dakota is specific for golf carts.
Currently, they do not allow any cart usage on federal, state, or county highways.
However, they do grant municipalities the right to allow their citizens to use golf carts minimally.
Currently, cities are only allowed to give their citizens the right to drive between the cart owner’s home and a golf course.
Any other use is forbidden and may be prosecuted by state officials.
Furthermore, golf carts are not allowed to ride at any time between sunset and sunrise.
That’s because they are not fit with lights and it would be impossible to see at night.
There are a few situations in which carts may be used outside of these laws.
For example, carts can cross federal, state, or county highways when otherwise being driven legally.
These roads must be perpendicular to legal city roads, and the cart cannot travel on them beyond simply crossing them.
Currently, golf carts are exempt from regulations such as titling, registration, and other equipment requirement needs.
Therefore, you typically don’t have to upgrade your carts to make them legal to ride.
Remember, though, that your use is minimal and is set by city governments.
And if a city does not expressly allow golf cart use, state law takes over, and you cannot ride your golf carts.
Remember, too, that you typically can only ride golf carts on low-speed roads, as decided by your city.
Low-Speed Vehicle Regulations for North Dakota
If you upgrade your golf cart to meet the federal requirements outlined in the section above, it then falls under the heading of a low-speed vehicle.
The rules and regulations for these carts are much different than for non-upgraded carts.
They include the capability of reaching 20 miles per hour while being incapable of reaching speeds of 25 miles per hour.
Any higher and they are considered medium-speed vehicles.
North Dakota also puts forth a few other restrictions on your low-speed vehicle use.
These include preventing you from riding carts that exceed 1,500 pounds in unloaded weight.
Your carts must also be fully certified to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or FMVSS.
Then, you must register it an get a license to make it legal.
Typically, you can get this process done at a local DMV after a brief inspection by the proper authorities.
Remember, too, that your golf cart is no longer legally a cart after it becomes a low-speed vehicle.
As a result, you need a valid driver’s license to take one out on any appropriate road.
These roads include those of 35 miles per hour or lower.
City and state officials may restrict your usage even on these streets, so make sure to do your research first.
You also need insurance for your cart, including personal injury and collision damage coverage.
Federal Golf Cart Laws
Helpful Links
https://www.nhtsa.gov/laws-regulations/fmvss
Disclaimer
Even though our guides are thorough and researched, it is highly recommended that you perform your own research and check with your local municipality on rules as well.
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