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HB-4644, As Passed Senate, July 3, 2026
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SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 4644
A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled
"Michigan vehicle code,"
by amending section 657a (MCL 257.657a), as amended by 2018 PA 139.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 657a. (1) A village or city having a population of fewer 1
than 30,000 65,000 individuals based upon on the 2010 most recent 2
federal decennial census may by resolution allow the operation of 3
golf carts on the streets of that village or city, subject to the 4
requirements of this section. A township having a population of 5
fewer than 30,000 65,000 individuals based upon on the 2010 most 6
recent federal decennial census may by resolution, unless 7
disapproved by the county board of commissioners under subsection 8
(3), allow the operation of golf carts on the streets of that 9
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township, subject to the requirements of this section. 1
(2) If a village, city, or township allows the operation of 2
golf carts on the streets of that village, city, or township, that 3
village, city, or township may require those golf carts and the 4
operators of those golf carts to be recorded on a list maintained 5
by that village, city, or township. A village, city, or township 6
shall not charge a fee for listing golf carts or the operators of 7
those golf carts. 8
(3) A county board of commissioners may, by resolution, 9
disapprove the operation of golf carts on the streets of a township 10
located within that county if the county board of commissioners 11
conducts a hearing and determines that 1 or more of the following 12
apply: 13
(a) The operation of golf carts on the streets of that 14
township would cause significant environmental damage. 15
(b) The operation of golf carts on the streets of that 16
township would cause a significant concern of public safety. 17
(4) The county board of commissioners shall provide public 18
notice of a hearing under subsection (3) at least 45 days before 19
the hearing is conducted. The county board of commissioners shall 20
also provide written notice of a hearing under subsection (3) to 21
the township at least 45 days before the hearing is conducted. 22
(5) A person An individual shall not operate a golf cart on 23
any street unless he or she the individual is at least 16 years old 24
and is licensed to operate a motor vehicle. 25
(6) The operator of a golf cart shall comply with the signal 26
requirements of section 648 that apply to the operation of a 27
vehicle. 28
(7) A person An individual operating a golf cart upon on a 29
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roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as 1
practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or 2
a vehicle proceeding in the same direction. 3
(8) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (9), a person 4
an individual shall not operate a golf cart on a state trunk line 5
highway. This subsection does not prohibit a person an individual 6
from crossing a state trunk line highway when operating a golf cart 7
on a street of a village, city, or township, using the most direct 8
line of crossing. 9
(9) The legislative body of a local unit of government having 10
a population of not more than 30,000 based on the most recent 11
federal decennial census may request the state transportation 12
department to authorize the local unit of government to adopt an 13
ordinance authorizing the operation of golf carts on a state trunk 14
line highway, other than an interstate highway or a freeway, 15
located within the local unit of government. The request shall must 16
describe how the authorization would meet the requirements of 17
subsection (10). The state transportation department shall solicit 18
comment on the request from the local units of government where the 19
state trunk line highway is located. The state transportation 20
department shall consider comments received on the request before 21
making a decision on the request. The state transportation 22
department shall grant the request in whole or in part or deny the 23
request not more than 60 days after the request is received. If the 24
state transportation department grants a request in whole or in 25
part under this subsection, the local unit of government that 26
submitted the request may adopt an ordinance authorizing the 27
operation of golf carts on the state trunk line highway that was 28
the subject of the request. A county may submit a request for 29
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authorization under this subsection on behalf of 1 or more local 1
units of government located within that county if requested by 2
those local units of government. 3
(10) The state transportation department shall authorize the 4
operation of a golf cart under subsection (9) only on a state trunk 5
line highway that is not an interstate highway or a freeway within 6
a local unit of government having a population of not more than 7
30,000 based on the most recent federal decennial census that has 8
already adopted an ordinance under subsection (1), that serves as a 9
connector between portions of the local unit of government that 10
only connect through the state trunk line highway, and that meets 1 11
or more of the following requirements: 12
(a) Provides access to tourist attractions, food service 13
establishments, fuel, motels, or other services. 14
(b) Serves as a connector between 2 segments of the same 15
county road that run along discontinuous town lines. 16
(c) Includes a bridge or culvert that allows a golf cart to 17
cross a river, stream, wetland, or gully that is not crossed by a 18
street or county road on which golf carts are authorized to operate 19
under an ordinance adopted as provided in subsection (1). 20
(11) The state transportation department may permanently or 21
temporarily close a state trunk line highway to the operation of 22
golf carts otherwise authorized under subsection (9) after written 23
notice to the clerk of the local unit of government that requested 24
the authorization under subsection (9). The notice shall must be in 25
writing and sent by first-class United States mail or personally 26
delivered not less than 30 days before the adoption of the rule or 27
order closing the state trunk line highway. The notice shall must 28
set forth specific reasons for the closure. The state 29
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transportation department is not required to develop a plan for an 1
alternate route for a state trunk line highway that it has 2
temporarily closed to the operation of golf carts. 3
(12) Where a usable and designated path for golf carts is 4
provided adjacent to a highway or street, a person an individual 5
operating a golf cart may, by local ordinance, be required to use 6
that path. 7
(13) A person An individual operating a golf cart shall not 8
pass between lines of traffic, but may pass on the left of traffic 9
moving in his or her the individual's direction in the case of a 2-10
way street or on the left or right of traffic in the case of a 1-11
way street, in an unoccupied lane. 12
(14) A golf cart shall must not be operated on a sidewalk 13
constructed for the use of pedestrians. 14
(15) A golf cart shall must be operated at a speed not to 15
exceed 15 miles per hour and shall must not be operated on a state 16
trunk line highway or a highway or street with a speed limit of 17
more than 30 miles per hour except to cross that state trunk line 18
highway or highway or street. A village, city, or township may, by 19
resolution, designate roads or classifications of roads for use by 20
golf carts under this subsection. 21
(16) A golf cart shall must not be operated on a state trunk 22
line highway or the streets of a city, village, or township during 23
the time period from 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour after 24
sunrise. 25
(17) A person An individual operating a golf cart or who is a 26
passenger in a golf cart is not required to wear a crash helmet. 27
(18) A person An individual operating a golf cart on a state 28
trunk line highway shall ride as near to the right side of the 29
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roadway as practicable. 1
(19) This section does not apply to a police officer in the 2
performance of his or her the police officer's official duties. 3
(20) A golf cart operated on a street of a village, city, or 4
township under this section is not required to be registered under 5
this act for purposes of section 3101 of the insurance code of 6
1956, 1956 PA 218, MCL 500.3101. 7
(21) As used in this section, "golf cart" means a vehicle 8
designed for transportation while playing the game of golf. A 9
village, city, or township may require a golf cart registered 10
within its jurisdiction to meet any or all of the following vehicle 11
safety requirements of a low-speed vehicle for approval under this 12
section: 13
(a) At least 2 headlamps that comply with section 685. 14
(b) At least 1 tail lamp that complies with section 686. 15
(c) At least 1 stop lamp and 1 lamp or mechanical signal 16
device that comply with sections 697 and 697b. 17
(d) At least 1 red reflector on each side of the golf cart as 18
far to the rear as practicable and 1 red reflector on the rear of 19
the golf cart as required for low-speed vehicles by 49 CFR 571.500. 20
(e) One exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the 21
golf cart and either 1 exterior mirror mounted on the passenger 22
side of the golf cart or 1 interior mirror as required for low-23
speed vehicles by 49 CFR 571.500. 24
(f) Brakes and a parking brake that comply with section 704. 25
705. 26
(g) A horn that complies with section 706. 27
(h) A windshield that complies with section 708a. 28
(i) A manufacturer's identification number permanently affixed 29
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to the frame of the golf cart. 1
(j) Safety belts that comply with section 710a and that are 2
used as required by section 710e. 3
(k) The crash helmet requirements applicable to low-speed 4
vehicles under section 658b. 5