Motorized carts are allowed on Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) approved areas throughout Douglas. Motorized carts must be registered through the City of Douglas Marshal’s Office. Motorized carts must weigh less than 1,300 pounds and cannot exceed 20 miles per hour. If the vehicle does not comply, it cannot be legally registered or used on approved roadways/paths in the City of Douglas. Drivers of permitted motorized carts must have a valid state issued driver’s license as well as adhere to all traffic laws.
When registering for a motorized cart permit, owners must provide the vehicle identification number, cart year model, make, color, and proof of minimum insurance coverage on motorized cart/auto insurance or homeowners policy/recreational vehicle policy that meets or exceed the minimum requirements of: Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident; Property damage liability $25,000 per person; Uninsured motorist bodily injury $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. To legally and safely operate a motorized cart on a GDOT approved city street, the cart must have the following safety features: safety restraints and/or child restraints, a flashing amber light that may be seen from 500 feet, a horn that can be audible from 200 feet, proper exhaust, headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, rear view mirrors, and reflex reflectors. Once registered, owners will receive a decal that must be affixed to the cart for its use on a city street.
Four wheelers, side-by-sides (Can-Am, Rangers, etc.) and other motorized carts that can exceed 20 miles per hour and/or weigh more than 1,300 pounds are not approved for use on city streets. Motorized carts may only be operated on City approved 2-lane roads where there is one lane of traffic for the direction of travel and have a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. State Route 206/Bowens Mill Rd.at Touchton Dr. crossing is not an approved area since it was determined this intersection failed to meet connectivity and the speed limit is 55 MPH. Motorized carts may not be operated on any road that has been designated a part of the state or federal highway system unless it is an approved crossing/intersection which are listed above.
For a full copy of the motorized cart ordinance and a map of the approved streets for motorized cart crossings, please stop by the Douglas Marshal’s Office, located at City Hall, or go online to www.cityofdouglas.com.