[samquiros]

I think the issue is not whether you are going to get a ticket or not. The issue is whether you have a habit of breaking the law or not, and how safe it is to do so.

Me, I do not make a habit of breaking the law knowingly. I also think that a golf cart over 20mph is unsafe. So I avoid exceeding 20mph, since that is the speed limit on the multi-modals, and I respect that.

Your mileage may vary.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by samquiros

I think the issue is not whether you are going to get a ticket or not. The issue is whether you have a habit of breaking the law or not, and how safe it is to do so.

Me, I do not make a habit of breaking the law knowingly. I also think that a golf cart over 20mph is unsafe. So I avoid exceeding 20mph, since that is the speed limit on the multi-modals, and I respect that.

Your mileage may vary.

Funny that I've never seen a speed limit sign on the MMPs, which are not county roads and according to others can only be "patrolled" for DUI, not speed. Of course, if anyplace needs to have a 20 speed limit, it is the MMPs especially approaching blind curves. There are some pretty unsafe cart drivers (and cyclists) out there.

As far as the other parts of that post go:

19.9 in a golf cart is safe but 20.1 is not???? I doubt it.
Anyone who goes 20.1 in a golf cart at times is "making a habit of breaking the law"?
You "avoid" going over 20? That implies your cart is capable of going over 20 which in and of itself makes YOU a "law breaker"

[wfgross58]

Low Speed Vehicles - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

[Marmaduke]

Originally Posted by npwalters

I know that golf carts are limited by law to 20mph. We all know that it is easy to change the governor and allow it to go faster.

Every time this comes up someone chirps up and states that changing the governor will invalidate your insurance if you are involved in a wreck. Does anyone have any ACTUAL proof that this has ever happened?

The fact that my cart can go a little over 20 does not mean I do go or - if involved in a mishap - was going over 20. My car will go over 100 but as long as I stay at or below the stated limit I'm legal. How would the insurance company know if an owner changed the governor? Who is to say it did not come from the factory as it currently sits?

Bottom line is I'm inclined to believe this is an old wives tale.

We bought our cart at Cart World on 441, Lady Lake. It's one of the oldest and most reputable dealers in this area.

Our salesperson told us that they sold a cart to a man who changed the governor. He was involved in an accident that resulted in a death of another person.
The FIRST thing the police did was to impound the cart. The governor was checked, and found to be well above Florida regulations.
The store was spoken to by investigators about their proof of factory/mfg. delivery of the cart to the man and they were free of ANY AND ALL wrongdoing.

On the other hand, the man who changed the governor was charged. Proof was with the impounded golf cart and he was found guilty. He went to prison. Some lawyer probably got him out right away, I don't know.

I'd imagine that his insurance company did not pay the victim's family, but I have no further information.

I would imagine he lost, in more ways than one, and asked himself IF he would've done it all over again, if given a 2nd chance?

REMEMBER the 59th Bridge song.

That sales persons story convinced us to leave it alone!

[bogmonster]

It’s not carts going 20.1, but rather much faster. I clocked my buddies cart at 32 mph

[Marathon Man]

Golf Cart Citation Story | Inside The Bubble

[KenLee100]

Originally Posted by npwalters

I know that golf carts are limited by law to 20mph. We all know that it is easy to change the governor and allow it to go faster.

Every time this comes up someone chirps up and states that changing the governor will invalidate your insurance if you are involved in a wreck. Does anyone have any ACTUAL proof that this has ever happened?

The fact that my cart can go a little over 20 does not mean I do go or - if involved in a mishap - was going over 20. My car will go over 100 but as long as I stay at or below the stated limit I'm legal. How would the insurance company know if an owner changed the governor? Who is to say it did not come from the factory as it currently sits?

Bottom line is I'm inclined to believe this is an old wives tale.

This is an old "Karens" tale.
Your liability will cover anything not excluded in your policy.
That said, you could be held liable in a civil suit if a court finds you negligent.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
This is not legal advice.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by bogmonster

It’s not carts going 20.1, but rather much faster. I clocked my buddies cart at 32 mph

Agree 100%, however, both could be charged equally under the law (although unlikely). And this is why I think this law needs to be modified---just being capable should not be the standard for unlawful operation of a golf cart, you should actually be exceeding 20.

My car is capable of 140, should I be charged with "speeding"?
My kitchen knives are capable of killing my neighbor---should I be charged with murder?
My bottle of fireball in my liquor cabinet is capable of making me drunk---should I be charged?

The law kind of reminds me of the move "Minority Report" where psychics predicted a future crime and LEOs arrested the perps for actions they have not yet taken.

[HawkinsGuy]

Originally Posted by npwalters

Bottom line is I'm inclined to believe this is an old wives tale.

So what’s so wrong with that? I love my old wife’s tail!

[wamley]

Looks like there's a 5MPH grace period written into the law for golf carts. @20 MPR setup, but not violated by up to 25MPH. golf card over 25MPH is an LSV. I would think that a flat surface would be the test criteria for the 20MPH since different hills would produce different speeds. However, the gas cart will not respond to more gas going downhill once your at the setup speed. My gas Yamaha is setup for 20MPH it will go 22-23 mph going down some of the steepest hills and maybe a little more going down the bridge over 441 to Orange Blossom.

[Quickdraw]

Originally Posted by npwalters

I know that golf carts are limited by law to 20mph. We all know that it is easy to change the governor and allow it to go faster.

Every time this comes up someone chirps up and states that changing the governor will invalidate your insurance if you are involved in a wreck. Does anyone have any ACTUAL proof that this has ever happened?

The fact that my cart can go a little over 20 does not mean I do go or - if involved in a mishap - was going over 20. My car will go over 100 but as long as I stay at or below the stated limit I'm legal. How would the insurance company know if an owner changed the governor? Who is to say it did not come from the factory as it currently sits?

Bottom line is I'm inclined to believe this is an old wives tale.

If your question is limited strictly to the matter of insurance coverage and denials of same, although many may have opinions about this subject, the correct answer to this inquiry is to read your policy. If an activity or a circumstance is not excluded from coverage, based upon the terms and conditions of your policy, it should not void your coverage. Questions about how law enforcement may treat any golf cart or LSV, based upon their tracked speed is another matter entirely.

Quickdraw

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by wamley

Looks like there's a 5MPH grace period written into the law for golf carts. @20 MPR setup, but not violated by up to 25MPH. golf card over 25MPH is an LSV. I would think that a flat surface would be the test criteria for the 20MPH since different hills would produce different speeds. However, the gas cart will not respond to more gas going downhill once your at the setup speed. My gas Yamaha is setup for 20MPH it will go 22-23 mph going down some of the steepest hills and maybe a little more going down the bridge over 441 to Orange Blossom.

Could you please cite the Florida statute that has "5 MPH grace period written into the law"?

[MartyW]

New to TV. Not an insurance agent, LEO OR Legal Beagle, but I have seen many signs through out TV that states max speed is 20MPH unless otherwise posted. As you say, haven't seen a sign on the MMPs, but I can't imagine the MMPs are higher speed limit than the shared roads.... IMHO

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Funny that I've never seen a speed limit sign on the MMPs, which are not county roads and according to others can only be "patrolled" for DUI, not speed. Of course, if anyplace needs to have a 20 speed limit, it is the MMPs especially approaching blind curves. There are some pretty unsafe cart drivers (and cyclists) out there.

As far as the other parts of that post go:

19.9 in a golf cart is safe but 20.1 is not???? I doubt it.
Anyone who goes 20.1 in a golf cart at times is "making a habit of breaking the law"?
You "avoid" going over 20? That implies your cart is capable of going over 20 which in and of itself makes YOU a "law breaker"

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by MartyW

New to TV. Not an insurance agent, LEO OR Legal Beagle, but I have seen many signs through out TV that states max speed is 20MPH unless otherwise posted. As you say, haven't seen a sign on the MMPs, but I can't imagine the MMPs are higher speed limit than the shared roads.... IMHO

Apples and oranges......

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

Golf Cart Citation Story | Inside The Bubble

Driving on a public road is a giant leap from driving on an MMP.