Low Speed Vehicle Policy and Golf Cart Policy

LSV and Golf Cart Registration

1) LSV registration may only be issued for compliant vehicles per 49 C.F.R. § 571.500 and to individuals who possess a valid driver’s license. 

2) Golf cart registration may only be issued for compliant vehicles per O.C.G.A § 40-6-330.1.

3) Any Georgia Tech unit currently owning or purchasing a LSV or golf cart must register each vehicle with Georgia Tech Fleet Services.  Upon receipt of the vehicle, the Fleet Services Coordinator will assign and affix a number to the vehicle for inventory purposes.  The Fleet Services Coordinator is required to send a copy of the license plate with the registration and state ID to DOAS.

4) The Fleet Service Coordinator will apply for an amber light sticker and state registration decal.  The decal will be delivered to Fleet Services and adhered to the vehicle by the department.

5) DOAS will add the vehicle to the asset list for physical damage coverage.

6) The department owning or purchasing the vehicle is required to affix or have affixed to each vehicle two Georgia Tech unit decals, one that is visible on each side of the vehicle, identifying it as an Institute/state vehicle.  It is also required to have the “How’s My Driving” sticker with its designated phone number. Affixing these decals is not the responsibility of Fleet Services. 

7) Any LSVs or golf carts transferred to another unit or to Intercampus or Statewide Surplus must be reported to Fleet Services to keep the inventory current.

8) Organizations that are not Georgia Tech units (e.g., affiliated organizations), but have individuals who operate LSVs and golf carts on the Georgia Tech campus also must register each vehicle with Fleet Services.  However, tags, licenses, parking permit and maintenance for privately-owned vehicles are solely the responsibility of the vehicle owner.    

Golf Cart Safety Requirements

1) By Georgia state law, effective January 1, 2012, golf carts must have the following working safety equipment to be street legal:

a) A braking system sufficient for the weight and passenger capacity of the vehicle, including a parking brake;

b) A reverse warning device functional at all times when the directional control is in the reverse position;

c) A main power switch. When the switch is in the "off" position, or the key or other device that activates the switch is removed, the motive power circuit shall be inoperative. If the switch uses a key, it shall be removable only in the "off" position;

d) Head lamps;

e) Reflex reflectors;

f) Tail lamps;

g) A horn;

h) A rearview mirror;

i) Safety warning labels; and

j) Hip restraints and hand holds.

2) Non-street legal golf carts currently in use on the Georgia Tech campus will be phased out of use by July 31, 2016. In the meantime, they should not be driven on public streets.

3) After August 1, 2016, non-street legal golf carts will not be eligible for Georgia Tech parking permits or Fleet Services registration. 

LSVs and street legal golf carts may be purchased for use on the Georgia Tech campus only for legitimate Georgia Tech business purposes.  These purposes include:

a) transporting goods or services for delivery;

b) transporting materials and skilled individuals to provide safety, maintenance, and repair services;

c) transporting individuals to comply with ADA requirements for special events;

d) transporting individuals with the specific purpose of attending Georgia Tech meetings, or touring the campus for fundraising, recruiting, and enhancing Georgia Tech; and 

e) incident or emergency response.

1) Georgia Tech departments requesting approval by the Fleet Services to purchase authorized vehicles must justify the service purpose for which the vehicle is intended.

2) Georgia Tech Procurement Services is responsible for approving for purchase only those vehicles that are in compliance with federal and state law and have a vehicle identification number (VIN).

3) LSVs purchased by any Georgia Tech department must comply with DOAS Office of Fleet Services requirements for on-road vehicles that became effective June 30, 2007.

4) All Georgia Tech vehicle purchases must be approved in writing by DOAS Office of Fleet Services.

5) Any Georgia Tech unit seeking approval from DOAS to purchase a vehicle must first contact the Fleet Services Coordinator through the online Vehicle Purchase Request form.

6) The Fleet Services Coordinator is the liaison between Georgia Tech units and DOAS for all vehicle purchase requests.

7) DOAS and the State Accounting Office have launched the Asset Management System to track all state assets.  The purchase of all state vehicles, including LSVs and golf carts, must be approved by the DOAS Office of Fleet Service through the Asset Management System.  All requests are routed to DOAS through the Fleet Services Coordinator.

Motor Vehicle Maintenance Policy

Institute employees who operate Georgia Tech LSVs and golf carts are subject to the Driver qualification and training requirements of the Board of Regents policy on Motor Vehicle Use.

Departments operating LSVs and golf carts on the Georgia Tech campus, other than Landscape/Maintenance Utility Vehicles, must purchase and display the appropriate GT campus parking permit and must purchase a reserved stall if the charging station is in a parking deck or lot.

LSVs and golf carts on the Georgia Tech campus must only be parked in officially designated “Service Vehicle” parking areas, “LSV” parking stalls and loading docks.

Drivers of LSVs and golf carts on the Georgia Tech campus must obey all parking regulations.

Drivers of Georgia Tech LSVs must not use LSVs on high-speed streets (i.e., streets with above 35 miles per hour speed limits) surrounding the campus. 

Drivers of Georgia Tech golf carts must not use streets with speed limits above 25 miles per hour.

Drivers should refer to the Low Speed Vehicle Safe Boundary Map

Drivers of Georgia Tech LSVs and golf carts must obey all traffic regulations.

Driving and parking LSVs and golf carts on sidewalks and pedestrian walkways within the Georgia Tech campus is prohibited, with the exception of when they are used occasionally for tasks requiring use on sidewalks and grass for required Georgia Tech services, including:

a) Carrying out irrigation, trash pick-up, and other Facilities Management or Parking/Transportation  business;

b) Building inspections for hazardous materials, and other EHS business;

c) Supporting Institute Communications photo and video operations;

d) Delivering Georgia Tech mail;

e) Delivering Georgia Tech library materials and collections;

f) Repairing Buzzcard-related equipment;

g) Transporting individuals in compliance with ADA/disability requirements; and

h) Incident or emergency response.

Privately owned LSVs and golf carts on the Georgia Tech campus are subject to Institute policies and procedures regarding registration, parking, and allowed use.  Anyone found violating these policies and procedures shall be cited and held personally responsible.

Non-street legal golf/motorized carts, other than landscape/maintenance utility vehicles, in use on the Georgia Tech campus will be phased out of use by July 31, 2016. In the meantime, they should not be driven on public streets.

Citation, Enforcement and Impoundment

Georgia Tech Police Department and Georgia Tech Parking and Transportation shall share enforcement duties regarding the operation and parking of LSVs and golf/motorized carts on campus.

GTPD is responsible for citations involving LSV and golf/motorized cart moving violations.

Parking and Transportation is responsible for citations involving LSV and golf/motorized cart parking violations.

Any LSV or golf/motorized cart found in violation of this policy will be subject to citation and/or impoundment.

Special Events

Exceptions to the policy for reasons of access during special events must be approved in advance in writing by the Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance or the EVP’s designee.