Is it OK to drive golf carts on MS Coast roads? Here’s what the law says
It’s starting to feel like summer on the Mississippi Coast, and for many residents that means breaking out their golf carts and low-speed vehicles.
While they might feel like an easy way to get around, officials are reminding residents that certain laws still apply.
“Golf carts are a fun and convenient way to get around — but they are still considered vehicles under the law,” the Bay St. Louis Police Department said in an April 6 post on Facebook.
In places like Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs, communities where golf carts are especially common, that distinction matters.
So, what are the rules of taking a golf cart out for a spin? Here’s what to know.
Can you drive golf carts on the highway?
No, golf carts and low-speed vehicles are not allowed on highways in Bay St. Louis or Ocean Springs except when crossing roads at certain intersections, according to the city.
These vehicles can only be driving on roads with speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less in Bay St. Louis or roads with speed limits of 30 miles per hour or less in Ocean Springs.
In Bay St. Louis, these are the only intersections you can cross Highway 90 with while driving a golf cart:
- Beach Blvd
- Dunbar Ave
- Main St/Blue Meadow Rd
- Drinkwater Rd
- Washington St
- Bouslog St
What are the requirements for driving a golf cart?
Golf cart registration is required in both towns, and the fee is $50 in Bay St. Louis and $51 in Ocean Springs.
Golf cart drivers are also required to have the following:
- A valid driver’s license
- Proof of insurance
- A visible reflective triangle
To drive a golf cart on the street in Ocean Springs it must have the following:
- A vehicle identification number
- Seat belts for all seats
- A parking brake
- Headlights
- Taillights
- Brake lights
- Front and rear turn signals
- A windshield
- Side and rear reflectors
- A horn
- An interior rearview mirror
Can you get arrested for DUI while operating a golf cart?
Golf carts and low speed vehicle operators can be arrested for DUI as rules of the road still apply, officials said.
The legal blood alcohol concentration limit in Mississippi is 0.08%, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.
