[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I think we both have speculated and opinionated enough, so here are THE FACTS, from the Florida Statutes:

First: definition of a "highway:

(53) STREET OR HIGHWAY.—
(a) The entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic;
(b) The entire width between the boundary lines of any privately owned way or place used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons, or any limited access road owned or controlled by a special district, whenever, by written agreement entered into under s. 316.006(2)(b) or (3)(b), a county or municipality exercises traffic control jurisdiction over said way or place;

So, by legal definition by the State of Florida, a MMP IS a "highway" since it is public and carries "vehicular traffic"(carts, cycles, even scooters)

Next, the definition of an intersection:

17) INTERSECTION.—
(a) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curblines; or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles; or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.

So, again by definition by the State of Florida, the meeting of an MMP and the "car" road, even at a gate crossing is an intersection.

So finally, :

(b) At a four-way stop intersection, the driver of the first vehicle to stop at the intersection shall be the first to proceed. If two or more vehicles reach the four-way stop intersection at the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.

So in conclusion, again, according to THE LAW, an MMP is a "highway", where it crosses at a gate is an "intersection" and the first to arrive, EVEN IF A GOLF CART OR BICYCLE, has the right of way. PERIOD.

If you have your Florida statutes open, look up the required marking for indicating that vehicular traffic must stop. I have always been told it is an octagonal sign with red background....... If I don't see one of those on the MMP then I don't legally have to stop? (EDIT: The MMP has octagonal stop signs at all the gate crossings I came to today.)

We're spending a lot of time discussing a situation that should happen infrequently. Whatever we prove is right or wrong matters very little because a majority of Villagers are going to make up their own rules anyway.