[xnx]

In other parts of the country (south and southeast) Side-By-Sides/UTVs are used the same way as golf carts are used as you describe. Motorcycles are allowed and small cars are not because small cars pose a huge threat to the auto-industry.

[rented_mule]

I believe UTVs are illegal everywhere on paved roads and even on some government maintained dirt roads in California. But I live in a rural part of California where several of us drive them (or ATVs) around town. Occasionally someone will mention getting pulled over and warned (I haven't heard of a ticket). But you rarely see law enforcement driving around our town at all.

I've been in an even more remote part of California, where I was riding my UTV for a few hundred yards on a 55 MPH paved road to get back to my car/trailer after riding in the dirt all day. It was California State Route 182 in Mono County (population density: 4.2/sq mi). A local sheriff saw me and followed me to my car. I was certain I was getting a ticket. He started by asking where I'd ridden and what my favorite parts were. Based on that, he shared some other places nearby that I might like to ride and told me which paved roads I can use to get between them. As he left, he told me to have fun.