Quote:
Originally Posted by bestmickey
I hear what you're saying, but I don't find your argument persuasive. Automobile laws are written addressing their operation being on "streets, roadways, and highways". So, you're saying that if I drive my automobile on a sidewalk or a multi-modal path within The Villages, the police can't give me a citation? I disagree.
It is partly defined in Florida statute that a "golf cart" is a motor vehicle that does not exceed 20 mph. Low speed vehicles (LSV) are also partly defined in Florida statute as going faster than 20 mph. Agreed? (If you want to see the specific citations, I can lead you to them). It's further stated in Florida statute that LSV's must be registered and can only be driven by licensed drivers. Go to: http://laws.flrules.org/1999/163. If the link doesn't work cut/paste the address into your browser.
See Section 316.2122 (1) (which I cut/pasted here)
"(1) A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour."
I put the first sentence in bold, but the operative word in the sentence is " only". An LSV may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
My read of this statute indicates I can not legally operate my LSV on a sidewalk or multi-modal path.
I'm not a lawyer, but in my work life I had to frequently reference Civil Service Law and many union contracts. Therefore, I tend to refer to laws and other legal agreements when I have confusion or question issues.
Since Bogie Shooter and others on this forum have frequently stated that the police "have no authority" on the multi-modal paths, and since I don't understand why that is so, I looked up some laws.
Please note that I'm not commenting on what is (in my opinion) a reasonable or safe speed limit in a golf cart. I'm sticking with the laws, which are binding.
I could be wrong. I readily acknowledge I'm never right 100% of the time.
I ask that Bogie Shooter and/or others show me in Florida law where it states that the police have "no authority on multi-modal paths". I'm ready to be corrected. |
I Made no argument. I only explained how the law is applied and at no time did I indicate that no laws apply to golf carts on rec trails. There may be specific laws regulating golf carts on rec trails but I have no idea what they may be. An example could be the prohibition of operating while under the influence.
What I am saying is that the vast amount of vehicle laws do not apply in that they were written to apply to cars and trucks on highways. Generally speaking any public street is a highway.
Perhaps an easy way to resolve all this is for someone to call the Sumter County Sheriff Department and ask them this question. What specific laws regulate the operation of golf carts on the rec trails in The Villages?