Florida Senate - 2009                                    SB 1088
       
       
       
       By Senator Altman
       
       
       
       
       24-00498A-09                                          20091088__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to delivery vehicles; amending s.
    3         316.2126, F.S.; defining the term “seasonal delivery
    4         personnel”; authorizing the use of golf carts,
    5         modified carts, low-speed vehicles, and utility
    6         vehicles by seasonal delivery personnel during a
    7         certain timeframe; providing an effective date.
    8         
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10         
   11         Section 1. Section 316.2126, Florida Statutes, is amended
   12  to read:
   13         316.2126 Authorized use of golf carts, modified carts, low
   14  speed vehicles, and utility vehicles by municipalities and state
   15  employees, state park volunteers, and state park visitors.—
   16         (1) In addition to the powers granted by ss. 316.212 and
   17  316.2125, municipalities are authorized to utilize golf carts
   18  and utility vehicles, as defined in s. 320.01, upon any state,
   19  county, or municipal roads located within the corporate limits
   20  of such municipalities, subject to the following conditions:
   21         (a) Golf carts and utility vehicles must comply with the
   22  operational and safety requirements in ss. 316.212 and 316.2125,
   23  and with any more restrictive ordinances enacted by the local
   24  governmental entity pursuant to s. 316.212(8), and shall be
   25  operated only by municipal employees for municipal purposes,
   26  including, but not limited to, police patrol, traffic
   27  enforcement, and inspection of public facilities.
   28         (b) In addition to the safety equipment required in s.
   29  316.212(6) and any more restrictive safety equipment required by
   30  the local governmental entity pursuant to s. 316.212(8), such
   31  golf carts and utility vehicles must be equipped with sufficient
   32  lighting and turn signal equipment.
   33         (c) Golf carts and utility vehicles may be operated only on
   34  state roads that have a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour
   35  or less.
   36         (2) State employees, state park volunteers, and state park
   37  visitors are authorized to use golf carts and utility vehicles,
   38  as defined in s. 320.01, upon any public roads within the
   39  boundaries of state parks managed by the Division of Recreation
   40  and Parks of the Department of Environmental Protection, subject
   41  to the following conditions:
   42         (a) Golf carts and utility vehicles must comply with the
   43  operational and safety requirements in s. 316.212.
   44         (b) Golf carts and utility vehicles shall be operated only
   45  by state employees and state park volunteers for state purposes
   46  and by state park visitors for uses authorized by the Division
   47  of Recreation and Parks of the Department of Environmental
   48  Protection.
   49         (3)(a) As used in this subsection, “seasonal delivery
   50  personnel” means employees of a delivery service when delivering
   51  goods for that service during the time period specified in
   52  paragraph (b).
   53         (b) Seasonal delivery personnel are authorized to use golf
   54  carts, modified carts, low-speed vehicles, and utility vehicles
   55  as defined in s. 320.01 upon any public road with a speed limit
   56  of up to 35 miles per hour for the purpose of delivering goods
   57  sent through a delivery service. Such vehicles must be marked in
   58  some manner with the name of the delivery service. A trailer may
   59  be pulled by the vehicle. Vehicles used pursuant to this
   60  subsection may be operated after sunset if, in addition to the
   61  safety requirements in s. 316.212(6), they are equipped with
   62  suitable headlights and tail lights. This authorization applies
   63  to deliveries made from midnight October 15 until midnight
   64  December 31 of each year.
   65         (4)(3) Anyone operating a golf cart or utility vehicle
   66  pursuant to this section must possess a valid driver's license
   67  as required by s. 322.03.
   68         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.