Florida Senate - 2009                             CS for SB 1088
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Transportation; and Senator Altman
       
       
       
       
       596-03416-09                                          20091088c1
    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, the term “seasonal
   50  delivery personnel” means employees of a licensed commercial
   51  delivery service when delivering for that service during the
   52  time period specified in 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 that has a speed
   56  limit of up to 35 miles per hour for the purpose of delivering
   57  goods sent through a delivery service. As used in this
   58  subsection, the term “golf cart” means a motor vehicle as
   59  defined in s. 320.01(22), but also includes such vehicles
   60  modified with a cargo platform or bin to transport parcels, or
   61  with a hitch to tow a trailer. Such vehicles must be marked in
   62  some manner with the name of the delivery service. A trailer may
   63  be pulled by the vehicle. Vehicles used pursuant to this
   64  subsection may be operated after sunset if, in addition to the
   65  safety requirements in s. 316.212(6), they are equipped with
   66  suitable headlights and tail lights. This authorization applies
   67  to deliveries made from midnight October 15 until midnight
   68  December 31 of each year.
   69         (4)(3) Anyone operating a golf cart or utility vehicle
   70  pursuant to this section must possess a valid driver’s license
   71  as required by s. 322.03.
   72         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.