Myrtle Beach cracks down on mo-ped rentals

Business owners that rent mo-peds, scooters, golf carts and low-speed vehicles in Myrtle Beach have 33 days to inspect, inventory and register their fleet with the city’s police department under a new law that takes effect May 15.

The city council gave final approval Tuesday to an ordiance aimed at curbing the proliferation of slow-moving rentals that clog city streets. Under the new law, every rented mo-ped, scooter, golf cart and other low-speed vehicle in the city will need to bear tags that identify the type of conveyance on the road.

The rented vehicles will require a city-issued decal to operate legally on the streets of Myrtle Beach beginning May 15. The decals will be provided through an annual registration.

Jack Scoville, a lawyer representing one of Myrtle Beach’s largest rental agencies, predicted the law would put a lot of small rental shops out of business. He asked the City Council to postpone final approval to give him time to determine the law would pass state muster.

But city leaders hailed the legislation as a step towards safety.

Business owners unable to comply by May 15 can petition the city for a 30-day extension.

“We have received numerous citizen complaints regarding what appears to be the chaos of golf cart operation after dark, mo-ped operation that was at least negligent and sometimes reckless, a proliferation of mo-peds which apparently exceed operational limitations established by state law and we need to get those off the road,” said city attorney Tom Ellenburg, who drafted the legislation. “But the idea is to begin to shape how this alternative transportation is impacting our public safety.”

Under the new ordinance, renters under the age of 18 would need a parent or legal guardian to sign any rental agreement to rent the vehicles. And rental agencies would be required to train renters to operate the conveyances before they leave their lots.

Rental companies would have to display city-approved signs in their businesses reminding customers of the laws. Store clerks would have to certify a renter’s competency to operate the vehicles and not rent to anyone they believe to be incompetent due to “drunkenness, drugs, age or mental or physical incapacity.”

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach cracks down on mo-ped rentals."