By John Summers | WBR Independent April 20, 2026

Here are the four changes to paste in manually:

1. LEDE — Replace everything from "ADDIS —" through "A vote is expected at the May meeting."

ADDIS — It wasn't just the April 12 golf cart flip on Boulevard Acadian that brought the issue to a head. It's been building for years.

Juvenile riders were involved in Sunday's crash. Nobody was seriously hurt. But for Addis Police Chief Jason Langlois, it was one more incident in a pattern that keeps getting worse — and one he says he can no longer ignore.

"Each year this is getting worse and worse," Langlois told WBR Independent this week. He placed the responsibility squarely on parents. When a teenager gets behind the wheel of a car, he noted, they go through training. No such requirement exists for ATVs, golf carts, or UTVs. Parents hand over the keys and the kids go.

Enforcement is complicated further by the nature of the complaints. Residents call when they see reckless riding, Langlois said, but most want to remain anonymous. By the time officers arrive, the riders are gone

"We are taking a lot of civil liability if we just keep turning a blind eye and not doing the right thing," he told the council at the April 14 regular meeting.

The council responded by taking its first concrete step toward addressing the issue — introducing an ordinance that would formally permit golf carts and UTVs — utility terrain vehicles, commonly known as side-by-sides — on Addis municipal roads

Currently Illegal — All of It

Under Louisiana state law, the use of golf carts and UTVs on any public roadway is prohibited. Period. The only way to change that is for a local government to pass an ordinance specifically enabling it.

Addis has never done that.

"The town of Addis has not enabled it under the authority that state law provides," town attorney Karen White told the council. "So it is illegal."

The department had previously warned residents on social media about the state laws governing ATVs, UTVs, and golf carts, noting that none are permitted on public roads without proper registration, insurance, and municipal authorization.

The problem extends beyond public roads. The Addis Police Department has also fielded complaints about off-road vehicles operating on the West Baton Rouge Parish Heritage Trailway — the levee trail system designated for walking and biking only. Motorized vehicles of any kind are prohibited on the trailway under parish ordinance.

That hasn't stopped residents from riding. Complaints have grown steadily, Langlois said, and the incidents have grown more serious. He cited a prior crash in which a man broke his leg on a four-wheeler and noted that multiple complaints have involved infants and small children riding on the vehicles.

"We don't want to be out there working a fatality when we know it's a growing problem," he said.

What the Ordinance Would Require

If the council adopts the ordinance next month, golf carts and UTVs would be permitted on Addis municipal roads — but only if the vehicle meets minimum state requirements. Under Louisiana law, those include efficient brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rear view mirror, red reflectorized warning devices front and rear, headlamps, front and rear turn signal lamps, tail lamps, and brake lamps.

Owners would also be required to register the vehicle with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, carry compulsory insurance, and hold a valid driver's license.

State law currently sets the minimum age at 21 for UTV operators and requires only a valid driver's license — which could mean a 16-year-old — for golf carts. Several residents and council members suggested raising the minimum age to 21 for both, an option the council could include in the final ordinance.

The Title Problem

One issue that dominated public comment Tuesday night: many residents who have already equipped their golf carts with lights, turn signals, horns, and insurance cannot get them registered because they don't have a title.

Second and third-owner golf carts — common in Addis — often change hands without proper title transfers. Without a title, the state won't register the vehicle. Without registration, the vehicle remains illegal on the road regardless of how many safety upgrades the owner has made.

White acknowledged there is a process to obtain a title through affidavits and documentation, but called it neither fun nor fast. Newer golf carts that meet federal VIN standards have an easier path. Older models likely do not.

A Bill That Could Change Everything — For UTVs

A bill moving through the current legislative session could reshape the landscape for side-by-sides and UTVs statewide. House Bill 592, filed by Rep. Chance Henry, would flip the existing presumption — instead of UTVs being prohibited unless a local government enables them, they would be allowed on parish and municipal roads statewide unless a local government specifically restricts them.

The bill also removes the current 21-year minimum age requirement for UTV operators, meaning local governments would bear the responsibility of setting their own age restrictions if they choose.

White told the council she fully expects the bill to pass. If it does, Addis residents with street-legal UTVs may not need the town ordinance at all for that class of vehicle — though the town could still post restrictions. Golf carts are not covered by HB 592. A local ordinance would still be required for them.

What Happens Next

Councilwoman Bliss Bernard introduced the ordinance at the meeting, with the language drafted in real time by town attorney Karen White. The introduced ordinance would permit the use of certain off-road vehicles under Louisiana Revised Statutes 32:299.3 and 32:299.4 on all Addis municipal roadways.

White said she would work with individual council members to finalize the draft ahead of the next regular meeting.

Until then, the law hasn't changed. Golf carts and UTVs on Addis roads remain illegal — and the chief says he has no choice but to enforce it.

WBR Independent covers West Baton Rouge Parish government, public safety, and community life. Story tips: editor@wbrindependent.com

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