DUI

[irishamr]

Has anyone ever gotten a DUI in a golf car?

Thanks, irishamr

[bime8062]

I do recall an incident on my last look-see visit (around the 5th of Feb.) where a male ran his cart into the owner of Jaguar and was arrested for DWI and assault.

jim

[Muncle]

Ah, the infamous Bridgeport incident! I think the DWI/DUI was more an add-on to the laundry list of charges they were going to lay on that guy (from one report). As was pointed out at the time, we really never got the whole story, no likely ever will.

[redwitch]

I know of one individual who was frequently brought home by the police. He would frequently be seen "parked" on a golf trail or in the wrong driveway or just passed out in the middle of the block. It seemed the police would just help him get home but, so far as I know, he was never cited.

[Sidney Lanier]

We've been told that since golf carts are not street-licensed motor vehicles, drivers of them cannot be cited in the same way as if those very same drivers were driving a licensed motor vehicle. Is this true? Just wondering....

[redwitch]

Don't know about that. There was an article in yesterday's paper saying they were going to cite golf carts going over 25 mph (at least Sumter County Sheriff's Dept. was).

[bimmertl]

There were two representatives from local law enforcment at the recent Villages golf car safety clinic. They stated you can receive a ticket for DUI on a golf car and also stated you can also be ticketed for an "open container" violation if you are drinking alcoholic beverages while driving it.

[Sidney Lanier]

But would these be on street-legal carts involving licensed drivers? How could drivers of non-street-legal carts driving on golf cart trails be cited? How could ANY non-street-legal golf cart drivers who don't have a driver's license even be cited at all? I just wonder how this would work....

[Taltarzac]

But would these be on street-legal carts involving licensed drivers? How could drivers of non-street-legal carts driving on golf cart trails be cited? How could ANY non-street-legal golf cart drivers who don't have a driver's license even be cited at all? I just wonder how this would work....


Check the Sumter, Lake and Marion County ordinances. Believe they cover how each respective police department could cite golf cart riders on paths for various infractions. Remember some kind of state motor vehicle law which allows local authorities to create laws and enforce these for golf carts.

[Sidney Lanier]

Are there links available to these ordinances? Interesting....

[Taltarzac]

Are there links available to these ordinances? Interesting....


This web-site seems to have many of the FL local ordinances. http://www.municode.com/resources/code_list.asp?stateID=9

[bimmertl]

But would these be on street-legal carts involving licensed drivers? How could drivers of non-street-legal carts driving on golf cart trails be cited? How could ANY non-street-legal golf cart drivers who don't have a driver's license even be cited at all? I just wonder how this would work....


You don't need a drivers license to be "cited" for DUI violations etc. If that were the case, somebody under revocation could drive drunk and have nothing to worry about. The law provides plenty of remedies that have no bearing on whether the offender has a license or not.

[Taltarzac]

Looks like it is Sumter County Ordinance 17-3 that covers golf carts. http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=12044&sid=9


Sec. 17-3. Operation of golf cars.
(a) Golf carts are defined as a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.
(b) Golf carts meeting the definition set forth in subsection (a) may be operated on those county roads or streets designated for golf cart usage through a resolution of the board of county commissioners. The resolution shall contain a determination that the golf carts may safely travel on or cross the designated roads or streets, and consider such factors as the speed, volume and character of the motor vehicle traffic using the road or street.
(c) The provision of appropriate signage designating such areas and regulating the use of golf carts shall be the responsibility of the director of public works.
(d) All golf carts operated upon properly designated roads and streets shall meet the minimum equipment standards established by the Florida Statutes. Golf carts may be operated, unless otherwise set by resolution, between the hours before sunrise and after sunset if equipped with, at a minimum, headlights, brake lights, turn signals, a windshield, and reflective devices on the sides of the golf cart that could include reflective tape. Golf carts that do not meet the minimum equipment standards for operation between the hours before sunrise and after sunset shall only be permitted to operate between sunrise and sunset.
(e) In no event shall this section authorize the operation of golf carts on roads or streets within the jurisdiction of the state or within the jurisdiction of any municipality.
(f) Golf carts that have been modified to exceed the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour shall not be considered golf carts under the provisions stated herein, and are not afforded the rights provided by this section.
(Ord. No. 2003-19, § 2, 10-28-03)
Editor's note: Ord. No. 2003-19, § 2, adopted Oct. 28, 2003, did not specifically amend the Code. Hence, its inclusion herein as section 17-3 was at the discretion of the editor.

[chuckster]

Wonder if the laws apply to operation on public roadway (morse blvd, etc) and not on cart paths that would be private property. How about golf course cart paths? :dontknow:

[redwitch]

Don't know exactly how it works in Florida but in California if the owner of the property gives you permissoin (shopping mall parking lots, etc.), local police can and do issue tickets on private property all the time. It would make sense the same would be true here and I have little doubt that the developers and various CCDs would allow police to protect on golf cart paths.

I know of cases where people on bicycles have been issued DUIs, so issuing one to someone in a golf cart should be pretty easy.

[RCT]

But would these be on street-legal carts involving licensed drivers? How could drivers of non-street-legal carts driving on golf cart trails be cited? How could ANY non-street-legal golf cart drivers who don't have a driver's license even be cited at all? I just wonder how this would work....
They have given people riding bicycles DUI's here in Boca Raton over the years, so I see no reason they can't give a person driving a golf cart one! Any time you're endangering someone, no matter what mode of transportation, they should be able to.

[Taltarzac]

Lake County Ordinance--

Sec. 15-15. Operation of golf carts.
(a) Golf carts are defined as a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes that is not capable of exceeding speeds of twenty (20) miles per hour.
(b) Golf carts meeting the definition set forth in subsection (a) may be operated on those county roads or streets designated for golf cart usage through a resolution of the board of county commissioners. The resolution shall contain a determination that the golf carts may safely travel on or cross the designated roads or streets, and consider such factors as the speed, volume and character of the motor vehicle traffic using the road or street.
(c) The provision of appropriate signage designating such areas and regulating the use of golf carts shall be the responsibility of the county manager or designee.
(d) All golf carts operated upon properly designated roads and streets shall meet the minimum equipment standards established by the Florida Statutes. Golf carts may be operated, unless otherwise set by resolution, between the hours before sunrise and after sunset if equipped with, at a minimum, headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and a windshield. Reflective devices on the sides of the golf cart are strongly encouraged. Golf carts that do not meet the minimum equipment standards for operation between the hours before sunrise and after sunset shall only be permitted to operate between sunrise and sunset.
(e) In no event shall this section authorize the operation of golf carts on roads or streets within the jurisdiction of the state or within the jurisdiction of any municipality.
(Ord. No. 2003-78, § 2, 9-2-03; Ord. No. 2004-12, § 2, 3-2-04)

I did not see a Marion County ordinance about golf carts???