During the 2011 Legislative Session, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 240, introducing a definition for "personal transportation vehicle" in Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia, which deals with motor vehicles. This new definition significantly overlaps with the pre-existing definition for "motorized cart" in the same Title, leading to confusion regarding the implications of the two terms.

Although the definitions of motorized cart and personal transportation vehicle overlap in the Georgia Code, they are treated as separate categories, each governed by different sets of laws.

This model ordinance has been developed to address some of the issues raised by these definitions and to provide guidance to Georgia cities wishing to regulate the use of motorized carts and personal transportation vehicles. This model ordinance offers options for cities to allow these vehicles in certain public areas, helping to create "Golf Cart" communities. The ordinance is designed to assist city attorneys in developing local regulations based on the distinctions between the two vehicle categories.