BILL NUMBER: AB 963 CHAPTERED 04/15/08 CHAPTER 6 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 15, 2008 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR APRIL 15, 2008 PASSED THE SENATE MARCH 24, 2008 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY APRIL 1, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 3, 2008 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY DECEMBER 13, 2007 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Adams FEBRUARY 22, 2007 An act to amend Section 1957 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 963, Adams. Golf carts. Existing law authorizes a city or county to designate a highway or a portion of a highway under its jurisdiction, generally not to exceed one mile in length, that is located adjacent to, or provides access to, a specifically described golf course, for the combined use of regular vehicular traffic and golf carts. Existing law also authorizes a city or county to adopt a golf cart transportation plan, under which separated golf cart lanes are to be developed and constructed in the plan area. The construction of separated golf cart lanes is not, however, required in a residence district, as defined, within a city of less than 50,000 residents if the speed limit in the district is 25 miles per hour or less and if certain other criteria are met. This bill would also, until January 1, 2016, provide an exemption from the separated golf cart lane requirement for street and highway segments in the City of La Verne that, among other requirements, have a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less and are immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community, if the city council makes specified findings. The bill would state the findings and declarations of the Legislature concerning the need for special legislation. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that vehicles used on public roadways meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to ensure the highest level of safety. Low-speed vehicles provide an efficient alternative to full-size vehicles. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to provide time for organizations within the City of La Verne to convert their fleet of golf cart type vehicles to safer low-speed vehicles. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the authority granted by this act not be extended beyond January 1, 2016. SEC. 2. Section 1957 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended to read: 1957. (a) If a city or county adopts a golf cart transportation plan, it shall do both of the following: (1) Establish minimum general design criteria for the development, planning, and construction of separated golf cart lanes, including, but not limited to, the design speed of the facility, the space requirements of the golf cart, and roadway design criteria. (2) In cooperation with the department, establish uniform specifications and symbols for signs, markers, and traffic control devices to control golf cart traffic; to warn of dangerous conditions, obstacles, or hazards; to designate the right-of-way as between golf carts, other vehicles, and bicycles; to state the nature and destination of the golf cart lane; and to warn pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists of the presence of golf cart traffic. (b) The construction of separated golf cart lanes, as required under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), does not apply in any of the following locations: (1) A residence district, as defined in Section 515 of the Vehicle Code, located within any city containing a population of less than 50,000 residents with a geographical area of more than 20 square miles in which city there are at least 20 golf courses, if the speed limit in that district is 25 miles per hour or less. (2) (A) The City of La Verne, on those street and highway segments for which the city council makes a finding that the street or highway segment is suitable to safely permit the use of regular vehicular traffic and also the driving of golf carts, and makes a separate finding that the construction of separated golf cart lanes is infeasible given the physical space limitations of the street or highway segment. In addition, these street or highway segments shall meet all of the following requirements: (i) Have speed limits of 25 miles per hour or less, as established by an engineering and traffic survey. (ii) Be immediately adjacent to or surrounded by the campus of a university or a retirement community. (iii) Provide a route between unconnected portions of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community, or provide direct access to an otherwise inaccessible portion of the campus of a university or the real property of a retirement community. (iv) Be approved for purposes of this paragraph by the law enforcement agency with primary traffic jurisdiction over the street or highway segments. (v) Accommodate golf carts without adversely impacting traffic safety or the travel needs of commuters and other users, according to a safety determination made by a traffic engineer. (vi) Be limited to golf carts owned by the university or retirement community and equipped with a windshield, headlights, brake lights, and seatbelts. (vii) Limit the use of golf carts to employees of the university or retirement community acting within the scope and course of employment for the maintenance or security of the university or the retirement community. (B) For purposes of this paragraph, "golf cart" includes, but is not limited to, a utility style golf cart, used for transporting maintenance equipment, and a shuttle style golf cart. (C) This paragraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2016. SEC. 3. The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of unique circumstances pertaining to higher education and retirement communities in the City of La Verne.