Lacombe County has launched a registration program for golf cart drivers who use public roads.

Golf carts are a common sight on roads in many of the county’s residential lake districts around Gulf and Sylvan Lakes. Technically, using public roads has been illegal.

“The problem is the golf carts are un-registerable through the provincial system,” said county community services director Dion Burlock.

Alert to the potential for collisions or other problems, the county launched a public education program and stepped up enforcement three years ago, he said.

The effort was not well received by some and numerous complaints came in by phone and email from golf cart owners.

In recent years, there have been growing calls to ease restrictions to allow those living in small, lakeside and resort communities to use their golf carts to make their way around.

A group of Sandy Point RV Resort lot owners made a presentation to county council last September calling for a dedicated trail be set aside in the development for the large number of golf cart users. Community groups have also lobbied the province to create a system where golf cart users can lawfully use public roads.

Last month, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen approved a five-year pilot project allowing municipalities to pass bylaws permitting registered users to operate legally on public roads.

Lacombe County, which has nearly two dozen residential lake districts, including communities such as Blissful Beach, Birch Bay and developments such as Eagles Quay and Sandy Point, quickly got its own registration program rolling.

At Thursday’s county council meeting, a golf car registration bylaw was passed unanimously. It requires golf cart owners to pay $60 annually to register their golf carts. Registration can be done online but registration stickers for golf carts must be picked up at the county office.

The fee at Sandy Point was set at $100, but that also includes parking privileges in the gravel public lot near the popular recreation area.

Registration fees are expected to generate around $7,400 and will go towards the projected $9,000 cost of the registration program, including developing the registration process, signs and a public awareness campaign. 

Coun. Ken Weenink asked if the county expected pushback from golf cart owners about having to pay a registration fee.

“I expect so,” said Burlock. “But you’re using a vehicle on a public road. There should be a registration fee.”

County manager Tim Timmons said Sandy Point golf cart owners had expressed their willingness to pay a registration fee if it helped get a new golf cart trail.

He predicts others will recognize there is a cost to bringing in a registration system and it should be bankrolled by all taxpayers.

The county’s online registration system is expected to be up and running in a week or so.