NOCONA, Texas (KAUZ) – A new City of Nocona ordinance requiring golf carts and utility task vehicles (UTVs) driven on city streets to be registered has generated significant discussion among residents, with hundreds of people weighing in online both for and against the measure.
Beginning in June, anyone who wants to operate a golf cart or UTV on Nocona roadways must register the vehicle with the city and pay a $50 annual registration fee.
According to Nocona Mayor Chris Nunnely, the ordinance was proposed by the city’s police chief after officers received numerous complaints about golf cart drivers not following traffic laws.
“Our police chief came to our city council and said, ‘Here is my proposal for how to handle it. I want to register all the golf carts in town that are going to be driving on city streets so I know the owners,’” Nunnely said. “We thought that’s great, so the city council voted on it and there was no opposition at that city council meeting.”
Nunnely said the registration requirement is intended to create accountability if problems arise involving golf carts or UTVs. While he said the city has not received reports of any crashes involving golf carts, officials have seen several close calls.
Josh Dingler said the biggest concern isn’t the vehicles themselves, but the people driving them.
“It’s not the golf carts themselves, it’s the drivers,” Dingler said. “Because there’s lots of children who are trying to get their lessons in, but they don’t know the laws of the roadways. They’ll run stop signs, and it only takes one person to be late on the brakes before they hit a child.”
The ordinance has prompted debate across the community, with some residents supporting the added accountability while others have questioned the annual fee and registration requirement.
The next Nocona City Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 11, where golf cart owners and other residents are expected to share their opinions on the ordinance. City leaders said feedback from the meeting could help determine whether the registration requirement remains in place or is amended.
“You’ve got two groups with valid concerns,” Nunnely said. “We want to hear from both groups. Maybe the ordinance will be amended so that both groups are happy. That would be the best case.”
Nocona isn’t the first community in the area to put rules in place for golf carts, Iowa Park adopted a similar ordinance in 2020, requiring registrations, inspections, and permits for vehicles operating on city streets.
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