With a rising number of golf cart operators seen operating on local streets, Branford Police Department (BPD) is reminding residents that golf cart road operation in town is restricted to a specific vicinity surrounding Pine Orchard golf course; and those carts must be inspected by police for compliance, operated by a CT licensed, insured driver, and registered with the Town of Branford (including a $25 fee), among other requirements.

The following information was shared July 25 by BPD at its Facebook page:

The operation of golf carts is restricted to the Pine Orchard section of the town within the following established boundaries:

1. To the West: from the intersection of Pine Orchard Road with the Amtrak rail track along Pine Orchard Road to Yowago Avenue to the intersection of the extension of Yowago Avenue with Long Island Sound.

2. To the South: along Long Island Sound from the intersection of the extension of the Branford Steam Railway (Tilcon) rail track to the intersection of Yowago Avenue with Long Island Sound.

3. To the North: from the intersection of Pine Orchard Road with the Amtrak rail track to its intersection with the Branford Steam Railway (Tilcon) rail track; and

4. To the East: by the Branford Steam Railway (Tilcon) rail track from its intersection with the Amtrak rail track to its extension southerly to Long Island Sound.

Note: You cannot drive your golf cart from your house outside of these boundaries to get to Pine Orchard. There is no leeway.

The following shall apply to the operation:

Permitted only during daylight hours; permitted on roads with speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less; equipped with operable horn [14-80(e)]; equipped with a fluorescent yellow 10”x10” flag mounted behind the driver’s side of the golf cart at a distance of 6 ½’ from the road surface; equipped with operable brake lights; operator shall possess and carry valid CT operator’s license; and valid insurance card must be carried during operation.

Lastly, you can only operate your golf cart in the above listed sections, and in compliance with the above listed regulations if and only if your golf cart is inspected and registered with the Town of Branford.

The Branford Police Department does inspections at the Pine Orchard Club Pro Shop usually the first week of June each year. Once the golf cart passes the inspection and the owner receives a “Certificate of Compliance,” the owner can then register the golf cart with the Town Tax Collector for $25.

The owner will receive a registration sticker that should be applied to the left rear bumper of the golf cart with the owner’s name and expiration date.

The BPD Facebook post also noted “... in conclusion, if we see you going for a joy ride in a golf cart down West Main Street on Friday night, the joy will come to an end quickly. Please follow the regulations above so we can keep the roads safer for all the folks who live in, work, visit, and travel through Branford.“