06/17/2026
We appreciate the community's interest and feedback regarding golf cart regulations in Bear Valley Springs.
Our goal is not to target responsible golf cart owners or licensed drivers who are operating lawfully. The primary concern has always been public safety, particularly the safety of underage operators, passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists who share our roadways.
The District Code regarding golf carts is not new. The ordinance was originally adopted on October 1, 1979, and the current District Code provisions have been in place since 2009. These regulations were established to address local safety concerns within Bear Valley Springs and have existed for many years.
As with any traffic safety initiative, our focus is prevention. We routinely observe situations involving underage operators, overloaded golf carts, unsafe operation on roadways, and other circumstances that create significant risk of injury. In the event of a serious collision, parents, guardians, operators, and property owners may face substantial civil liability. The District also has an obligation to take reasonable steps to reduce known safety hazards within the community.
The recent communication was intended to provide education and awareness before enforcement occurs. Our objective is voluntary compliance through education, not citations. We encourage all residents to review the applicable laws, understand their responsibilities, and operate vehicles safely.
Questions regarding the legality of specific regulations or potential legal challenges will ultimately be decided through the appropriate legal process. In the meantime, our responsibility remains the protection of the community and the promotion of safe roadway use for everyone.
We also want residents to know that the Bear Valley Police Department is actively working toward restoring full authority to enforce applicable California Vehicle Code provisions within the community. While that process is still underway, we are optimistic that we may regain that enforcement capability within the next few months. Our continued focus will be on education, voluntary compliance, and addressing behaviors that create genuine safety concerns, particularly those involving underage operators and unsafe vehicle operation.
