The Tarleton State University Golf and Utility Cart Safety program establishes mandatory rules for buying, registering, driving, and maintaining low-speed motorized vehicles on campus.
The program is designed to:
- Enhance campus safety by ensuring responsible vehicle operation.
- Protect the community including students, staff, visitors, and campus property.
- Standardize management to keep vehicle acquisition and tracking consistent.
- Reduce liability and minimize financial or legal risks for the university.
- Optimize resources by promoting efficient and accountable vehicle use.
Program Scope
This program applies to all low-speed vehicles (university-owned, leased, rented, or privately owned) driven on university property. It directly governs:
- All university departments, units, and programs
- Faculty, staff, and student employees
- Contractors and vendors performing services on campus
Privately Owned Vehicles
Privately owned golf carts, utility, and similar motorized low-speed vehicles are prohibited on university property unless specifically authorized by the Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance or designee through the permit process outlined within this SAP.
Permits
Permits may be issued for purposes including, but not limited to:
- transportation of individuals with mobility limitations.
- support of officially sponsored athletic event operations.
- donor, alumni, or VIP hospitality activities.
- Athletic department, booster organization, or foundation activities approved by the University.
- summer camp activities; and
- other purposes determined by the University to further institutional interests.
To qualify for a permit, the vehicle owner/operator must:
- submit an application, in the form prescribed by the University and located on the Risk Management webpage, a minimum of 7 days prior to the event.
- provide proof of automobile or general liability insurance with limits meeting University minimum insurance requirements.
- possess a valid driver’s license.
- acknowledge receipt of and agreement to comply with this SAP and applicable laws, System policies and regulations, and University rules and procedures; and
- display the event permit on the vehicle in a location visible to university officials.
Permits will be limited to an approved and specific University event and will not authorize routine or year-round operation on university property.
The University may limit the number of permits issued for any event and may designate approved operating areas, routes, parking locations, and hours of operation. Privately owned vehicles may not be operated within designated pedestrian-only areas, tailgating zones, or other restricted locations except as specifically authorized by the University.
The University reserves the right to deny, suspend, or revoke a permit at any time for safety, operational, or policy compliance reasons.
The owner and operator of a privately owned vehicles assume all responsibility for the safe operation of the vehicle and for any loss, damage, injury, or liability arising from its use. As a condition of permit issuance, the owner agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Tarleton State University, The Texas A&M University System (System), and their officers, Board of Regents, employees, and agents against any and all claims, demands, causes of action, and judgments for injury or death of any person or damage to any property that directly or indirectly result from operation of the privately owned vehicle.