Since my recent column on Bluffton’s new golf cart and specialized vehicle safety ordinance, many residents have reached out with thoughtful questions. Most focus on what South Carolina law requires, what Bluffton added locally and what this ordinance does—and does not—cover.
Let’s start with the baseline.
South Carolina law establishes minimum statewide requirements for operating golf carts and other specialized vehicles on public roads. These vehicles must be registered with the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles and display a permit decal. Drivers must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver’s license, and proof of liability insurance is required. State law limits operation to roads with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less…