Florida Law:

320.01 Definitions, general.--As used in the Florida Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:

(22) "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.

So if the governor on a gas cart has been modified or adjusted so that the motor can now go more than the 20 mph that it was designed to do, it is no longer a golf cart and must be registered, plated and insured as a LSV. I don't really care if you want to pass me on the roads. I'm retired and not in that much of a rush that I want to risk the fines and court appearance resulting from an unregistered vehicle violation. I just want all to be aware of what you're getting into when you speed up your cart for that extra couple of miles per hour. Be safe - we're all in this together.

Just because your cart goes over 20mph doesn't make it a LSV. Just take your foot off the gas pedal!

Ausfober,
 

well yes it does. By definition and confirmed by the insurance company, if a vehicle is ABLE to go over 20 mph, then it is classified as a LSV even if you never drive it over 20 mph. That is the problem, if you want that extra bit of power to negotiate some of the hills. A golf cart repair fellow told me that if the computer controlled setting is adjusted on the electric cart that it may not be able to be set exactly at 20 so it may go 18 and regardless of what it is set at, it will lose about 4 mph going up hill. The downhill speed doesn't matter as that get gravity into play. So you need to decide what it's worth to be able to max at 20 and lose 4 mph on the hills or to have that bit of extra if you need it.

Apparently if the engine on an electric cart is an original factory one then it can't go over 20 unless it was modified somewhere along the line by either the golf cart reseller or at the owner's request. Don't know about the gas ones. Still debating what to do.

BTW can you get ticketed on the cart path on BV or is it Morse Blvd that gets the tickets and Canal, as the carts are right on the roadway. There seems to be differing opinions.

LW888

My understanding is that you can only get ticketed on cart paths sharing the roadway. The multimodal paths are private property and police have no jurisdiction. However, if you have an accident on a multimodal, all bets are off. I seen tickets issued to golf carts on Morse north of 466 a couple of times and I've heard of tickets issued near Sweet Bay.

One thing that has not been mentioned. Your liability if you injure or cause damage to someone. Isn't that why you buy insurance? Why take the chance just to gain a little speed? Not to mention breaking the law.

Speed
 

I was on golf cart path doing 20mph approaching a slight down hill to a tunnel. In the rear veiw mirror I could see a cart coming up very fast. He past me at the top of the hill, made a fast turn in the tunnel and was out of sight in no time. If someone was coming up the hill or out of the tunnel, it would not have been a pretty sight. I wonder what his insurance co would have done! It is a good thing there are plenty of lawyers advertising on the TV, I might need one!:gc: