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January 09, 2009
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Motorised Golf Buggies Prohibited on Public Roads
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QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE
Bundaberg District Office
256 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg Q 4670
Telephone: (07) 4153 9144
Facsimile: (07) 4153 9155
22 December 2008
Mr Ben De Graef,
Secretary Manager,
Bargara Golf Club,
Miller Street
Bargara QLD 4670
Dear Ben,
I thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and your committee members to discuss the issues relating to the registration of motorised golf buggies for use by your members to travel from their homes to the golf club grounds.
I acknowledge the concerns raised by your members and appreciate the opportunity to provide you with some legislative clarification. The Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Vehicle Registration) Regulation 1999 (the legislations is the relevant legislation applicable to the registration of motor vehicles in Queensland.
I have addressed my response in terms of the six questions raised by the committee members at our recent meeting and hope that this information is able to clarify a number of issues for your members.
Why can't be drive our buggies within a designated lane with designated road crossings?
Section 10 of the legislation states that a person must not use, or permit to be used, on a road a vehicle that is not registered unless. . .(g) ..the vehicle is an exempt vehicle. The definition of an exempt vehicle is provided in section 4(c) of the legislation. The contents of section 4 are outshined below.
4 Meaning of exempt vehicle
In this regulation, a vehicle is an exempt vehicle if the vehicle is-
(c) a motorized golf buggy or other motorised machinery being used on a golf course or on a golf course car park, or a motorised golf buggy being used for directly crossing a road dividing a golf course;
The legislation makes specific reference for the exemption of motorised golf buggies under specific circumstances. As such the application of the exemption provisions is limited. Designated lanes and crossings will remain part of the road and the use of the vehicles will remain in contravention of the legislative provisions.
Why can't the Council designate a golf buggy friendly precinct?
Section 1 0 of Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation allows both the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Transport to issue guidelines and permits in relation to safe movement of particular vehicles.
Conditional registration guidelines issued by the Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Transport allow for golf buggies to be conditionally registered for use in limited circumstances and locations only. The guideline specifically allows for the use of the vehicles on public roads within designated areas such as car-parks (shopping centres, airports, etc); parklands; resorts; university grounds; hospital grounds; refuse/recycling depots; wharves; forest reserves; cemeteries; showgrounds; any area designated by the Chief Executive Queensland Transport and mining leases. Public roads outside those designated areas are not eligible for inclusion under existing guidelines. As such the Council does not have statutory authority for such action.
Why are buggies allowed to cross public roads at approved locations at Coral
Cove?
The response to question one contains the information relevant to this question.
The circumstances as exist at Coral Cove are specifically the subject of legislative exemption. The use of a motorised golf buggy outside those limitations does constitute a breach of the legislation.
Why are small mobility scooters permitted on roads while larger more stable golf buggy are banned?
In essence motorised wheelchairs and mobility aids provide disabled people access to movements that can normally be achieved through walking etc. In that regard they are considered to be pedestrians not motor vehicles. Disabled persons must carry a medical certificate stating their disability in order to prove their need of the device. Such devices are required to be used on footpaths or nature strips whenever possible. If it is not possible to use the footpath or nature strip they can access the road however they are required to stay close as possible to the left or right side of the road. They are required to obey all road rules as if they were a pedestrian.
Why does Queensland transport continue to register golf buggies knowing that the police refuse to issue permits.
Queensland Transport Conditional Registration Guidelines allow for golf buggies to be conditionally registered for use in limited circumstances and locations. Codes LO3 LO6A and LO7 apply. As such there exists statutory support for the conditional registration of motorised golf buggies under circumstances for which your members intend using them.
specific circumstances.
Unfortunately this authority does not apply to motorised golf buggies under the
If l fit my golf buggy with seatbelts, lights, Indicators and a horn, will I be permitted to drive at on the road?
No. As outlined in my response to your first question, to use a vehicle on a road it must be a registered vehicle unless it is specifically designated under legislation as an exempt vehicle.
With reference to your question relating to the ''drink driving'' of motorised golf buggies whilst on the golf course precinct, section 79 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1999 ( are not restricted to the use of motor vehicles on roads.
I have included a number of Government websites for your information and that of your members. These websites contain much of the information relevant to your concerns.
http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/ebd920f6a49265/Pdf_motorised_weeelchair_information.pdf
http://transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/ebb94c0efed73l5/cond_rego_golfbuggy_or_derivative.pdf
http://transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/eb96d343f98lda4/Pdf_guideline_f or_conditionally_registered_vehicles.pdf
Should you have any further concerns in relation to these matters please do not hesitate to contact me.
I trust that this information will be of assistance to you
Yours sincerely
Kev GUTERIDGE
District Inspector
Bundaberg District
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