If you own a golf cart and drive it around Port Aransas, you’re going to want to read this.

All city-issued golf cart registrations expire on Dec. 31. Port Aransas City Hall began issuing license plates good for the 2011 calendar year on Monday, Dec. 20.

A registration renewal costs $50.

Folks can get new plates on the spot by going to the city’s finance department at city hall and filling out an application. Cart owners must present valid certifi- cates of insurance.

Owners will be given copies of the city ordinance regulating golf cart use. The city doesn’t have the legal authority to issue registrations for ATVs or utility vehicles such as Polarises or Mules.

It’s a violation of a city ordinance to drive a golf cart on Port Aransas streets without an up-to-date, city-issued license plate.

By ordinance, golf carts may legally travel on any street in Port Aransas except for State Hwy. 361, south of Avenue G, and any street where the speed limit is not more than 35 mph, said Port Aransas Police Chief Scott Burroughs.

Golf carts may board the ferries, according to Howard Gillespie, director of ferry operations. However, golf carts can’t legally travel far down State Hwy. 361 on Harbor Island, because city ordinances don’t allow golf carts to be driven in areas where the speed limit is 35 mph or more. The Port Aransas city limits include parts of Harbor Island.

Burroughs said golf carts taken across the ship channel by ferry from Mustang Island to Harbor Island may be driven to the ferry system’s park-and-ride area, but not further down Hwy. 361.

More than one golf cart rental operation in Port Aransas doesn’t allow its golf carts to be taken off the island, as a matter of policy, according to spokesmen for those businesses.

Golf carts can’t legally be operated on public sidewalks, pedestrian walkways, playgrounds, public parks, school grounds “or other public recreational areas not designated for motor vehicle traffic,” according to the city’s golf cart ordinance.

While the beach is a public recreational area, golf carts are allowed on the beach roadway, because that’s an area that’s designated for motor vehicle traffic, by law.