STAFF PHOTO BY DAN PARKER Tags to go Golf cart registration tags lie on display at Port Aransas City Hall. If you own a golf cart in Port Aransas, your New Year’s resolution probably should be to go to city hall and get a new city-issued license plate for your vehicle.

A state law that went into effect Sept. 1 prevents the state from issuing registrations for golf carts, effectively banning the vehicles from many public roadways. But the law allows cities to issue registrations to allow the vehicles on city streets.

The Port Aransas City Council in November approved a final reading of ordinance that created a city registration program for golf carts.

City license plates have been available at City Hall since Dec. 17, but no one had dropped by yet to purchase one as of Monday, Dec. 28, said Darla Honea, the city’s finance director.

State registrations are good for one year from date of purchase, and folks who obtained them last year won’t have to get city tags until the state ones expire.

But cart owners whose state registrations expired between September and today, Thursday, Dec. 31, must get city tags soon.

Port Aransas police will allow golf cart owners a grace period for the first week of the New Year, according to Port Aransas Police Lt. James Stokes. After that, if those little vehicles don’t have up-to-date registrations, drivers will face the possibility of citations from police, Stokes said.

“We’re not going to go out there the first day and try to hammer people,” Stokes said. “We prefer compliance through education and voluntary compliance. But, if (people don’t comply), we have to take enforcement action.”

While state registrations were good for one year from the date they were issued, the city registrations are good for the 2010 calendar year, with all registrations expiring Dec. 31, 2010.

People seeking city registrations should fill out an application form at city hall and remember to bring proof of insurance with them. The registration fee is $50. A registration tag will be issued on the spot if the application is approved.