DeSoto County; authorize the use of golf carts and low-speed vehicles on certain public roads.

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To: Local and Private
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) McLendon

SENATE BILL NO. 3386

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF DESOTO 1
COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO ALLOW THE OPERATION OF GOLF CARTS AND 2
LOW-SPEED VEHICLES ON PUBLIC ROADS AND STREETS IN THE BUENA VISTA 3
LAKES SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE COUNTY; TO REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS 4
OPERATING A GOLF CART OR LOW-SPEED VEHICLE TO HAVE A VALID 5
DRIVER'S LICENSE AND PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; TO REQUIRE 6
LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND GOLF CARTS TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE 7
COUNTY; TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO CHARGE A REGISTRATION FEE; AND 8
FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 10
SECTION 1. As used in this act, unless a different meaning 11
clearly appears in the context, the following terms shall have the 12
following meanings: 13
(a) "Board" means the Board of Supervisors of DeSoto 14
County, Mississippi. 15
(b) "County" means DeSoto County, Mississippi. 16
(c) "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle that is 17
designated and manufactured for operation on a golf course for 18
sporting or recreational purposes, is not capable of exceeding 19
speeds of twenty (20) miles per hour, and is equipped with safety 20
equipment as required under 49 CFR Section 571.500. 21
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(d) "Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric 22
or gasoline-powered vehicle that has a top speed greater than 23
twenty (20) miles per hour but less than twenty-five (25) miles 24
per hour and is equipped with safety equipment as required under 25
49 CFR Section 571.500. 26
(e) "Subdivision" means Buena Vista Lakes Subdivision 27
in the county. 28
SECTION 2. (1) The board may, in its discretion, authorize 29
the operation of golf carts and low-speed vehicles only on the 30
public roads and streets of the subdivision. The authorization 31
must be embodied in an ordinance or resolution and recorded on the 32
minutes of the board. The authorization may be accompanied by 33
conditions not inconsistent with this act and may be revoked, in 34
whole or in part, by the board at any time. 35
(2) Golf carts and low-speed vehicles may be operated on 36
public roads and streets in the subdivision upon which bicycles 37
are authorized by law to be operated. Golf carts and low-speed 38
vehicles may not be operated on state highways or federal highways 39
that are not interstate highways except for the crossing of these 40
streets, in which case the shortest traveling distance to do so 41
shall be required. Drivers are required to operate golf carts and 42
low-speed vehicles only in the outside lane of multilane streets 43
and roads, where applicable. 44
(3) Any person operating a golf cart or low-speed vehicle on 45
the public roads and streets in the subdivision under this act 46
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ST: DeSoto County; authorize the use of golf
carts and low-speed vehicles on certain public
roads.
must have in his or her possession a valid driver's license or 47
temporary driver's permit and proof of financial responsibility as 48
required under Section 63-15-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972. 49
SECTION 3. (1) Every golf cart and low-speed vehicle to be 50
operated, as authorized under this act, on a public road or street 51
shall be required to be registered with the county. Upon payment 52
of a reasonable fee that may be charged by the county to cover the 53
costs of administration, presentation of proof of financial 54
responsibility and presentation of a valid driver's license or 55
temporary driver's permit, the owner of the golf cart or low-speed 56
vehicle shall be issued a registration decal by the county tax 57
collector that must be displayed on the left rear fender of the 58
vehicle. The registration shall remain valid for as long as the 59
registering owner owns the golf cart or low-speed vehicle. The 60
county shall provide the registrant with a map of the areas where 61
golf carts or low-speed vehicles may be operated at the time of 62
registration. 63
(2) The registration fee imposed under subsection (1) of 64
this section shall be retained by the chancery clerk and deposited 65
into the county general fund. 66
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from 67
and after its passage. 68