Thousands of people lined the sidewalks of Broadway Boulevard for Kansas City’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, watching as golf carts drove along the route.
These carts carried members of local businesses, community groups, and families who had entered the parade.
While it’s legal to drive a golf cart on a golf course or in a parade, what about driving one on the streets of Kansas City or even on a Missouri highway? Here’s what the law says and whether you could get a ticket for it.
Can You Drive a Golf Cart on Kansas City Streets?
Missouri law states that golf carts are not allowed on state or federal highways unless the highway intersects with a city street. Even then, the speed limit at the intersection must be under 45 mph for a golf cart to legally cross.
The law specifically states, “No golf cart or motorized wheelchair shall cross any highway at an intersection where the highway being crossed has a posted speed limit of more than forty-five miles per hour.”
According to Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Corporal Justin Ewing in 2023, drivers could be cited for driving too slowly if they take a golf cart on a highway.
Missouri has minimum speed limits, and if an officer pulls you over for driving too slow, you could get a ticket for impeding traffic.
Local governments can also create their own rules for golf carts. This means the law in Kansas City might be different from the law in places like Independence or Blue Springs.
In Kansas City, city ordinance 70-749 prohibits all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from being driven on city streets, highways, sidewalks, parks, and public property. However, the definition of an ATV does not include golf carts, so the rules are different.
Under section 70-137 of Kansas City’s code, both adults and teens over 15 can be charged for illegally driving a golf cart on city streets if the vehicle doesn’t have valid license plates from the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Kansas City Police Department officer Rick Cartwright explained in 2016 on Nextdoor that since golf carts aren’t registered, proof of financial responsibility (like insurance) isn’t required.
However, you could still get a ticket for breaking traffic laws, such as speeding or running a red light.
Kids under 15 cannot be prosecuted for traffic violations in Municipal Court, according to state law (231.031.1(3) RSMo).
However, the adult owner of the golf cart could be charged under section 70-134 for allowing an unlicensed minor to drive the vehicle on city streets.
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