Legal Advertisement ORDINANCE 2025 – 2 A NEW ORDINANCE TO BE ADDED TO CHAPTER 7 OF THE TOWN CODE REGARDING THE USE OF GOLF CARTS, UTV’S AND RECREATIONAL OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLES WITHIN THE TOWN OF JONESVILLE. CHAPTER 7.13.5 – GOLF CART, UTV, OR RECREATIONAL OFF- HIGHWAY VEHICLE OPERATION 7.13.5.010 DEFINITIONS For purposes of this Ordinance, the following definitions shall apply: “Golf cart” shall have the meaning set forth in Ind. Code § 9- I 3-2-69.7. “Proof of Financial Responsibility” shall mean, pursuant to Ind. Code § 9-25-2-3, proof of ability to respond to damages for liability that arises out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles in the following amounts: 1. Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to or death of any one (1) person; 2. Subject to the limit in subdivision (1), fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) because of bodily injury to or death of two (2) or more persons in any one (I) accident; and 3. Twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of injury to or destruction of property in any one (1) accident. “Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle/UTV” for the purpose of this Ordinance, ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles), 3-wheelers, 4-wheelers, and slow-moving vehicles are not considered recreational off-highway vehicles or utility task vehicles and may not operate within the Town of Jonesville. All recreational off-road vehicles and utility task vehicles authorized to operate within the Town shall meet the state minimum standards set forth in Ind. Code § 14-8-2-233.5 of a motorized, off-highway vehicle that: 1. is eighty (80) inches or less in width when measured from outside of tire rim to outside of tire rim; 2. has a dry weight of three thousand five hundred (3,500) pounds or less; (3) is designed for travel on at least four (4) non-highway or off-highway tires; and (4) is designed for recreational use by one (1) or more individuals. Additionally, to operate in compliance with this Ordinance, all recreational off-highway vehicles shall meet the following requirements: 1. be larger than fifty (50) inches, but less than eighty (80) inches in width when measured from outside of tire rim to outside of tire rim; 2. have a dry weight of no more than two thousand five hundred (2,500) pounds; 3. have insurance for golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles to operate in accordance with this Ordinance; 4. shall be required to ride single file and not side by side; 5. be designed for travel on at least four (4) non-highway or off-highway tires; 6. have the ability to operate at thirty-five (35) miles per hour or greater; 7. be equipped with the following operable equipment: a. safety belts for driver and all passengers; b. either side mirrors or a rear-view mirror; c. a traditional steering wheel; d. two headlights; e. two turn signals; f. at least one brake light; and g, contains seat belts and roll cage. (D) “Streets” shall mean the paved portion of the maintained road included within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Jonesville when any part of the road is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel in Indiana. The term does not include town alleys, with the exception of the north-south gravelled alley east of the railroad tracks and west of Taylor Street between Jackson and Mill Streets. 7.13.5.20 APPLICATION It is the intent of this Chapter to allow for the use of golf carts only on streets within the Town of Jonesville as defined in § 74.01 of this Ordinance. Nothing herein shall be construed to apply to or limit the use of golf carts on private property. In addition to this Ordinance, golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicle operators shall comply with Indiana State Law concerning registering and operating golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles and any other applicable state or federal law. 7.13.5.030 PROHIBITION AGAINST OPERATION- TIME OF OPERATION. Golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles shall not be operated on designated neighborhood/county roads as defined herein from sunset to sunrise unless the golf cart, UTV, and/or recreational off-highway vehicle is equipped with headlights, taillights, brake lights, seatbelts for each passenger, turn signals, and rearview mirror all in working order. 7.13.5.040 VALID LICENSE REQUIRED. Only persons possessing a valid driver’s license issued by the State of Indiana, another state of the United States of America, or an international agency shall be permitted to operate golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles within unincorporated Bartholomew County. 7.13.5.050 DISCLAIMER, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INSURANCE Any person who owns, operates, or rides upon a golf cart, UTV and recreational off-highway vehicle within Town of Jonesville does so at his/her own risk and peril and assumes all liability resulting from such activity. Any operator, upon request by a law enforcement officer as defined in Ind. Code §9-13-2-92, shall provide Proof of Financial Responsibility as defined herein for the operation of the golf cart or recreational off-highway vehicles within the Town. 7.13.5.060 TRAFFIC LAWS OBSERVED. Golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles must be operated in compliance with all applicable local and state traffic laws and the operator may be ticketed in the same manner as motor vehicle operators. Golf cart and recreational off-highway vehicles operators shall stay in the far right of the travelled portion of the road and yield the right-of-way to overtaking vehicle as soon as possible to do so safely. Golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles may only be parked in the same manner and at the same places designated for the parking of motor vehicles. The stopping, standing or parking of golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles in areas where parking is not allowed or in any place that may impede the flow of traffic, pedestrian walkways, or a passageway is prohibited and may result in removal by towing. 7.13.5.070 PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY Golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles shall not be operated on sidewalks. 7.13.5.080 LIMIT ON PASSENGERS Golf carts, UTVs, and recreational off-highway vehicles operated in accordance with this Ordinance shall not be used with more passengers than are allotted in accordance to the manufacturer’s listed passenger capacity of the golf cart, UTV, and recreational off-highway vehicle. All persons riding on a golf cart or recreational off-highway vehicle must be seated independently in one of the manufacturer designed seats, and may not be standing or riding on the back or in any place designed for cargo or sporting equipment while the golf cart, UTV, and recreational off-highway vehicle is in motion. 7.13.5.090 VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES 1. First Offense: One Hundred Dollars ($100.00); 2. Second Offense within one (1) year: Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00); and 3. Third Offense and each additional offense within one (1) year: Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00). A second, or subsequent, offense occurring more than twelve-months since the last offense shall be considered a first offense. The penalties listed in this Section do not include Court costs and fees that may be imposed by any Bartholomew County Court in addition to the penalty. If a law enforcement officer finds cause to issue a notice for a violation of this Ordinance, the officer has discretion to issue the notice/citation to: The golf carts, UTVs, and/or recreational off-highway vehicles operator, or in instances where the operator is an unlicensed juvenile, to the parent(s) of said operator. Unpaid violations shall be referred to the appropriate Bartholomew County Court. 7.13.5.100 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS If any part of this Ordinance is deemed invalid, such part will be deemed severable and its invalidity will have no effect upon the remaining provisions of this Ordinance. 7.13.5.110 EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall become effective upon adoption and publication as required by law. ADOPTED THIS 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025. AYES John S. Bennett Audrey McFarlane Donald M. Frey Council Members ATTESTED ON THE DATE SHOWN ABOVE: Terry Barnhart, Clerk-Treasurer 60155118 hspaxlp R: 11/19, 11/26/2025
