Are we newbies not meant to be in the Villages?

[scooterpoo]

Sold our home in NC, everything in PODS while we rent here to decide if we want to buy and what to buy, but after last night's happenings we are a little disillusioned. To get to the point our vehicle was in our CYV driveway. This morning we were leaving for the pool in golf cart. When backing out of garage saw concrete pavers all knocked and broken next door, and debris in our driveway. Then saw skid marks and our car damage. The neighbor next door said a golf cart was racing around and around the circle around midnight flying with two wheels off the ground and crashed. He called the police, they came out and it was young boys driving the cart but no one came to let us know our car had been hit. Golf cart must have been airborne from the broken right tailight and the broken right window glass near the back of our Ford explorer. We have been having such a nice time here in the "bubble" and neighbors have assured us this is not typical of the Villages. Guess this was just the exception last night! And now that the state trooper has made his report we'll try once again to head for the pool!

[paulandjean]

"Things Happen"

[Bill-n-Brillo]

WHOA!! Holy moley!! Hopefully the police have a record of who the cart operator and owner are.

Sorry to hear about it. But yes, going to the pool and relaxing will help!!

Bill :)

[Bogie Shooter]

Some grandkids have no supervision. Grandma & Granpa should start believing it is not cute for grandkids to drive the cart. Common sense still missing.

[runnermi]

Sold our home in NC, everything in PODS while we rent here to decide if we want to buy and what to buy, but after last night's happenings we are a little disillusioned. To get to the point our vehicle was in our CYV driveway. This morning we were leaving for the pool in golf cart. When backing out of garage saw concrete pavers all knocked and broken next door, and debris in our driveway. Then saw skid marks and our car damage. The neighbor next door said a golf cart was racing around and around the circle around midnight flying with two wheels off the ground and crashed. He called the police, they came out and it was young boys driving the cart but no one came to let us know our car had been hit. Golf cart must have been airborne from the broken right tailight and the broken right window glass near the back of our Ford explorer. We have been having such a nice time here in the "bubble" and neighbors have assured us this is not typical of the Villages. Guess this was just the exception last night! And now that the state trooper has made his report we'll try once again to head for the pool!

Wow. And where were the parents or grandparents of these kids? And why were they out screwing around at midnight and not in bed? I hope those kids are in a whole lot of trouble today with who ever is responsible for them.

[JenAjd]

So sorry that you had that experience!!! What village are you renting in?? I'd say that kids will do stuff like that, however as someone else said this isn't typical of behavior here. Hopefully the kids will be punished for this and that they won't just get slaps on their wrists!

I'm surprised though that you didn't hear something of the commotion!!

[ceejay]

"Things Happen"

Sure they do...but not usually on the level of what scooterpoo has just described!

We have been here for 2 years and I have never heard anything like the story you just related...hopefully, like Bill says, they have a record of it and the miscreants will be fined and made to pay up accordingly.

Enjoy your time here and please know that what happened to you last night is highly unusual...:(

[GeorgeT]

Sorry about all that. It's terrible but I hope the kids are OK. After all, they are just kids and I know that's not an excuse. I doubt they set out to cause damage, they were just having fun that got out of control. The parents or grand parents shouldn't have let them take the cart out so late but maybe they didn't know. Most of us have done stupid things when we were kids.

Again, I hope the kids are OK.

[asianthree]

What i don't understand is most would not let children have their car that late at night...makes me wonder if grandma and grandpa knew they were out with the golf cart? So sorry, after the pool, zip into the square and relax, hopefully the kids are on their way home, to get a job, to pay for all the damage, or at least thats what our generation would do

[buggyone]

That is a real shocker to hear. What area are you in?

I do have a couple of questions. Did the police find out whose golf cart it was and who was driving it? That is basically to ask if the golf cart was stolen or if it was kids visiting and borrowed grampa's cart. Second question - why was your car in the driveway? Don't CYVs have double garages?

Anyhow, sorry to hear about your trouble. Do not worry. That is a very, very rare thing to happen.

[njbchbum]

scooter - do you feel that you might have been targeted because you are renting? that would be unusual behavior in the villages, too! i hope someone can find the bad boys who did this so that you can have some degree of closure.

[paulandjean]

Ceejay, Seen many things like that around the villages. The night the guy drove backwards out of the mallory c.c.. Up and over the turn-around and thru the gate without stopping.

[Bogie Shooter]

That is a real shocker to hear. What area are you in?

I do have a couple of questions. Did the police find out whose golf cart it was and who was driving it? That is basically to ask if the golf cart was stolen or if it was kids visiting and borrowed grampa's cart. Second question - why was your car in the driveway? Don't CYVs have double garages?

Anyhow, sorry to hear about your trouble. Do not worry. That is a very, very rare thing to happen.

A real shocker? We are in a community of 80,000. There are going to be bad eggs among us. Things are going to happen....don't be shocked.
BTW there are a lot of folks that park in their driveway......many brought to much stuff.:D

[Bogie Shooter]

scooter - do you feel that you might have been targeted because you are renting? that would be unusual behavior in the villages, too! i hope someone can find the bad boys who did this so that you can have some degree of closure.

I don't think we should go there..............

[ilovetv]

Good grief. This is an exception and certainly not the norm in TV.

What kind of a neighbor does not knock on the door to tell you they have called the police because your car has been smashed in your driveway?!?

And if it was "young boys driving the cart", who saw them going round and round the circle on two wheels??

Could it be that it was a neighbor "adult" who came home drunk and did this?

Could it have been "young boys driving" the neighbor's cart....like the neighbor who is the boys' grandfather/mother, who wanted to keep this hush-hush and looking like "offender identity unknown"??

I know if my kids, adult houseguests, or grandkids did something like that, I would sure be ashamed and embarrassed, but I'd make myself go to the damaged car's owner to tell them the police have been called on your behalf because your car is smashed.

Something is fishy about this, unless Scooterpoo forgot a couple of key details here.

[graciegirl]

Dear Scooter.

I am SO sorry this happened to you. I hope that I understand that the micreants have been identified and will be dealt with.

I personally have not heard of anything quite like this happening, although kids driving golf carts under the age of licensing certainly does occur, because legally they can when they are 14.

I don't know why the police didn't wake you so they could assure you that the damage was validated. Do you know anymore than you did when you posted earlier?

Being targeted as a renter seems not likely as the damage would have hurt the occupants of the cart as well. It sounds like a foolish and avoidable accident.

I hope that any grandparents reading this who might have been inclined to let their visiting grandkids drive their carts unsupervised realize that they very well could be held liable for damages.

I am SO sorry this happened. I certainly hope that it won't change your mind about this wonderful place.

Wishing you many good surprises.

Gracie

[ljones190]

Sold our home in NC, everything in PODS while we rent here to decide if we want to buy and what to buy, but after last night's happenings we are a little disillusioned. To get to the point our vehicle was in our CYV driveway. This morning we were leaving for the pool in golf cart. When backing out of garage saw concrete pavers all knocked and broken next door, and debris in our driveway. Then saw skid marks and our car damage. The neighbor next door said a golf cart was racing around and around the circle around midnight flying with two wheels off the ground and crashed. He called the police, they came out and it was young boys driving the cart but no one came to let us know our car had been hit. Golf cart must have been airborne from the broken right tailight and the broken right window glass near the back of our Ford explorer. We have been having such a nice time here in the "bubble" and neighbors have assured us this is not typical of the Villages. Guess this was just the exception last night! And now that the state trooper has made his report we'll try once again to head for the pool!

I would certainly get a copy of the police report and report the damage to your insurance company, if the people are identified your insurance company can go after them. The police should be able to be find the suspects since there will certainly be damage to the golf cart. This is a serious issue in addition to leaving the scene of an accident. Could have been alcohol involved. Sorry for your troubles. We had a similar problem in NJ and when we asked for the police report, the police report had the driver identified on the report, we found out later he was taken to a hospital after hitting our daughter's parked car, took us two months to get our money but we finally did so.

[Pturner]

Hi Scooter,
Welcome to TOTV. What a shame that you had this experience, which yes is unusual here. I suggest you get a copy of the police report, which will answer some questions, and which you will will need anyway if you file an insurance claim. After receiving it, you might be able to talk to the officer to find out whether the offender was caught and if so, what action was taken.

It is possible that no one knocked on your door because it was midnight, although I would have if I had seen that your property had been damaged.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and that this issue is handled satisfactorily by authorities and family of offender.

[jebartle]

Sooooo sorry for this hiccup......As was already posted some grandparents are not watching their grandchildren.......This is NOT the norm and compared to what I see on the daily Orlando news, this is definitely heaven.....Hope you will enjoy the rest of your stay....We are also from North Carolina and just LOVE the Villages and know that you will also....

[villagegolfer]

Wow. And where were the parents or grandparents of these kids? And why were they out screwing around at midnight and not in bed? I hope those kids are in a whole lot of trouble today with who ever is responsible for them.

Yea right. Didn't you know that it is never the children's fault. My grandchild would not do that. Must be a case of mistaken identity. Take responsibility? That's what insurance companies are for.

[scooterpoo]

To answer questions, no, I don't feel we were targeted because we're renters. Most buyers were "renters" before they bought. We're in Pennecamp. The neighbor called the police but a state trooper came to our house today. So I don't know how the police dealt with the kids or who was in charge or many details more than what our neighbors told us. I hope the kids were not hurt too. We have a typical 1+ golf cart garage and most park their cars in the driveway.

[CMANN]

Sold our home in NC, everything in PODS while we rent here to decide if we want to buy and what to buy, but after last night's happenings we are a little disillusioned. To get to the point our vehicle was in our CYV driveway. This morning we were leaving for the pool in golf cart. When backing out of garage saw concrete pavers all knocked and broken next door, and debris in our driveway. Then saw skid marks and our car damage. The neighbor next door said a golf cart was racing around and around the circle around midnight flying with two wheels off the ground and crashed. He called the police, they came out and it was young boys driving the cart but no one came to let us know our car had been hit. Golf cart must have been airborne from the broken right tailight and the broken right window glass near the back of our Ford explorer. We have been having such a nice time here in the "bubble" and neighbors have assured us this is not typical of the Villages. Guess this was just the exception last night! And now that the state trooper has made his report we'll try once again to head for the pool!


Your event is not the usual. Chitt happens, even in The Villages. It happens back home. It happens in France. It happens at the North Pole.

If chitt must happen, I'd just as soon be here.

[CarGuys]

[. Guess this was just the exception last night! And now that the state trooper has made his report we'll try once again to head for the pool![/QUOTE]

Sorry your morning was ruined by someones irrational behavior at night.

Sure hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and find a place.

I will admit after teaching teenagers for 35 years the reason I am moving to TV is the general lack of teenagers!

I hope those responsible are tracked down and held responsible for their actions.


Herv

[handyman]

Hope this is resolved,I'm sure that grandparents did not just turn them loose,But they(the grandparents)
are responsible............

[Lou and Carolyn C.]

[QUOTE=scooterpoo;381659]To answer questions, no, I don't feel we were targeted because we're renters. Most buyers were "renters" before they bought. We're in Pennecamp. The neighbor called the police but a state trooper came to our house today. So I don't know how the police dealt with the kids or who was in charge or many details more than what our neighbors told us. I hope the kids were not hurt too. We have a typical 1+ golf cart garage and most park their cars in the driveway.[/QUOTE


So sorry to hear of this, recklessly driving a golf cart whether it be kids or adults is very inconsiderate and irresponsible of them and the parents/grandparents should be held accountable for lost/damage of your vehicle.
You mentioned that you are renters; will the property owners have to report this to their insurance company as property damage?
Also, where in Pennecamp did this accident happen? We own there and we are just curious has to the exact location.

[mikeandnancy1112]

I am so very sorry this happened to you. Please don't think this is the norm for the Villages. Parents and grandparents are very ignorant to let kids drive golf carts at all. And if they didn't know about this excursion they should have kept better tabs on the kids.

[robertj1954]

Becoming a victim of crime (reckless driving in this case) is always emotional and difficult. It is unfortunate the officer did not do a more thorough job of investigating while at the scene and alerting you to the damage sooner. In their defense, it may have been too dark to see damage to your vehicle.

If you are reading the newspaper, or watching the local TV news, you are probably aware of the very serious crime (murder/robbery/abductions) occurring in the larger cities in close proximity to TV. People do not feel safe in their neighborhoods or homes. Not many will say that here in TV. In fact they will state the opposite. That comes from good neighbors, a good community watch program, and good public safety departments working every day to keep our community safe.

I hope this unpleasant experience does not sour you on a future with us here at TV. It is a lifestyle that promises a long happy retirement with so many good people. Good luck... :smiley:

[Tiger Lady]

If kids are going to visit, they need to be monitored. We moved here for the very reason that kids can't live here full time. Kids DO NOT need to be driving golf carts period. We have been passed by golf carts where there were two kids only, no adults, and they didn't even look to be over 10 years old. People need to treat golf carts as any other motor vehicle -- kids shouldn't be driving.

[tainsley]

If kids are going to visit, they need to be monitored. We moved here for the very reason that kids can't live here full time. Kids DO NOT need to be driving golf carts period. We have been passed by golf carts where there were two kids only, no adults, and they didn't even look to be over 10 years old. People need to treat golf carts as any other motor vehicle -- kids shouldn't be driving.

Well said. I cringe when I see them driving (especially when they pass us). Love kids...just don't think they should be driving golf carts unsupervised. Kids will be kids.

[buggyone]

It would be very unfortunate for the grandparent to have a grandchild involved in an accident or causing damage while driving the golf cart. Just think of the insurance problem. If the child was underage and driving, insurance would not pay for damages or lawsuit. Gramps could lose everything he worked so many years to enjoy.

[Larry Wilson]

13 year old boy driving grandpa's golf cart as fast as he could.(neighbor). Passenger is 11 year old Boston Terrier that loves to ride in golf carts. Teenager took turn so fast and sharp that it threw the dog out which hit hard and rolled fast for 6 yards into road. Dog was really hurt. Luckily not hit by car or by me in a golf cart. Love teenagers but should not be driving by themselves.

[buggyone]

That really must have been something terrible to witness. I am sure the grandson feels bad about hurting the dog and gramps will hopefully never let him drive the cart again.

[ajdeck]

That really must have been something terrible to witness. I am sure the grandson feels bad about hurting the dog and gramps will hopefully never let him drive the cart again.


Sounds like some rules need to be modified to exclude non-owners from driving golf carts. Naturally renters would also be able to drive them as long as they were the actual renters.

Does that sound to severe and is it just me that think safety for all is more important than "non-experienced" people risking the real TV'ers.

Almost sounds like drunk drivers risking the sober ones...

Must be just me I guess, since no one seems to address this issue in the
passed and it's not going to get better with more folks coming to TV.

aj

[Bogie Shooter]

Sounds like some rules need to be modified to exclude non-owners from driving golf carts. Naturally renters would also be able to drive them as long as they were the actual renters.

Does that sound to severe and is it just me that think safety for all is more important than "non-experienced" people risking the real TV'ers.

Almost sounds like drunk drivers risking the sober ones...

Must be just me I guess, since no one seems to address this issue in the
passed and it's not going to get better with more folks coming to TV.

aj

The question would be, who would enforce the new rules. Currently there is no enforcement on the cart trails. As far as the streets current Fl law says if you are 14 you can drive a cart. State law would have to be changed......good luck.