[zcaveman]

THis was in today's Daily Sun (6/20)

Golf carts must cruise under 20 mph or be registered like a car

By CURT HILLS, DAILY SUN

THE VILLAGES — Bob Gilmartin believes he has a “hot” golf cart.

But its top speed doesn’t even reach 20 mph. And The Villages resident and Village Community Development District 2 supervisor knows that’s the way it should be.

Gilmartin only wishes he could say the same about other golf carts that go buzzing by him even though he’s got the accelerator pedal floored.

“Some of these guys go by me like they’ve got an outboard motor on their golf cart,” Gilmartin said. “Are we catching any of these guys?”

Yes, law enforcement officers are stopping those golf carts, said Lt. Nehemiah Wolfe with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

In Sumter County alone, which accounts for the largest portion of The Villages, 12 golf cart operators were issued tickets in the last month for speeding, Wolfe recently reported to Gilmartin and other CDD supervisors. Golf carts are manufactured to not exceed 19 mph.




Speeding ticket fines start at about $120, Wolfe said, but that’s just the beginning of the problems of a golf cart operator who speeds.

“What will happen is we’ll tag them for operating a motor vehicle without a registration — keeping in mind that the state of Florida does not recognize a golf cart as a motor vehicle,” Wolfe said. “But once it exceeds its manufacturer’s specifications or capabilities, it no longer is considered a golf cart.”

At that point, the golf cart is considered a motor vehicle that must be registered and insured, Wolfe said. If it’s not registered and insured, then it’s in violation of the law.

“That’s not a slap on the hand,” Wolfe said of the penalties.

Operating a motor vehicle without proper registration is a violation that earns the operator an appearance before a county judge.

“It’s my understanding what’s been happening is by the time they walk out of the courtroom, they’ve paid $300 in fines, plus they’re ordered to have the golf cart (modified) so it complies (with speed requirements),” Wolfe said.

Fine plus cart alterations is costing owners about $600 to $800, Wolfe estimated.

Golf cart owners also should remember to not let anyone under age 14 operate their carts — that’s illegal. And Wolfe said that traffic stop can come back and haunt an underage driver years later when they attempt to obtain a license, because the traffic violation will show up on their driving record.