Golf carts in Delray Beach are no longer just a quirky way to roll to the sand. As more residents and visitors opt for street-legal carts to cruise downtown and head to the beach, police say the number of golf-cart-related incidents has climbed. From November 2025 through March 2026, officers logged traffic complaints, traffic stops, hit-and-runs, stolen carts and even two assaults linked to the vehicles. City officials and law enforcement leaders say they are ramping up reminders about safety rules and legal requirements as carts become a regular part of life on local streets.
What the police data shows
According to figures shared by the Delray Beach Police Department, from November 2025 through March 2026 officers handled 11 traffic complaints, eight traffic stops, three hit-and-run crashes and two reports of stolen golf carts. The department also pushed out a short rules video on its social media channels to spell out how these carts are supposed to be used on city streets, as reported by WPTV.
How state law treats carts and LSVs
Under Florida law, there is a clear difference between standard golf carts and low-speed vehicles, or LSVs, and cities get some say over where each type can operate. State statute authorizes municipal use, limits on-road operation to streets with lower posted speed limits and requires drivers to have the proper credentials. The specific requirements and restrictions are laid out in the state code, per Florida Statutes.
Registration, equipment and who can drive
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles explains that when a golf cart is converted into an LSV, it has to meet federal safety standards, pass an inspection and be titled, registered and insured before it can legally use public roads. Guidance from the agency also spells out the forms, supporting documents and minimum insurance coverage that owners must provide when they apply to title and register a converted cart. See guidance from the Florida DHSMV.
Residents are split
On Atlantic Avenue and near Delray Beach Municipal Beach, people are not exactly on the same page about the cart invasion. One bike rider told a TV reporter he “can't stand any golf carts,” while a visitor said the carts make it easier and more fun to get around town. Those street-level reactions, along with the police department’s incident numbers, appeared in coverage by WPTV.
City planning and enforcement trade-offs
Delray Beach planning documents already flag golf-cart parking and curb management as pressure points in the downtown core and along East Atlantic Avenue. As part of its parking master plan, the city has weighed designated on-street parking spaces specifically for carts. Officials are trying to balance the popularity of carts for short trips with the extra enforcement, signage and infrastructure costs that come with letting more of them share the road. For more detail on parking and curb-management options, see city materials from Delray Beach.
How to stay legal and safe
Authorities say anyone driving or renting a golf cart should first confirm whether it has been titled and registered as an LSV, then make sure they have the required identification and insurance documents with them. Before rolling onto a public road, carts should also be checked for required equipment such as lights, seat belts and mirrors. Police say outreach and enforcement will continue in an effort to cut down on crashes and thefts, while the state provides step-by-step instructions for owners who want to make a cart street-legal. For official conversion, registration and insurance rules, see FLHSMV.
