View Full Version : One person's golf cart speeding ticket story
CFrance
04-18-2013, 10:45 PM
I have a friend. She has a golf cart. She was driving downhill on a diamond lane and got clocked at 29mph. Stopped by the sheriff and issued a citation. There was no amount on the citation. I now think that was because it wasn't actually a speeding ticket so much as it was a violation, having an unregistered golf cart that was exceeding 20 mph, or whatever that limit is.
Since there was no fine amount stipulated, she had to go to court. I posted that here, and some asked to hear the results. I have received her permission to report the results of her court appearance. I do not remember where the court was.
1. She was wearing shorts. There was a sign on the door that the wearing of shorts was not allowed in the court. Of course, nowhere was that written on the citation, and no way anyone would have known of this. This is Florida, after all, so people were wearing shorts. After much hullabalu, the shorts group was told they would be seen but had to wait till the end of the docket (a few hours).
2. My friend had a certificate from her cart maintenance company that she had, after the citation, had a governor installed that would not allow her cart to exceed the legal limit. The sheriff who issued the citation had told her that if she did this, the fine would probably be limited to court costs.
3. In the end, the fine was limited to court costs. A little under $250. She went to write a check; they don't take checks. Cash, money order, or credit card. Having not enough cash nor money order, she offered her Visa. There was a 2.37% surcharge for paying by credit card. Of course, that upped the price.
4. After you pay the court costs, you are considered "on probation." Want to get off probation? Go to another building a block down the street and pony up an additional $50. And oh, they will only accept money orders. However, you can go across the street to the pharmacy, and for $1, they will issue you a money order, which you then take back across the street and get yourself off of probation. $300+ total. I am not offering an opinion here! Just relating the story.
5. An anecdote: There was a handicapped man who was cited for going 23mph in his cart. He missed his court date by one day. When he showed up the day my friend was there, but earlier in the day, they handcuffed him, arrested him, and put him in jail for 7 hours until his wife could get down there to bail him out. Then he was in court in an orange prison suit. (but at least it wasn't shorts...) He related this story to my friend.
I am only posting this from an informational standpoint, because someone earlier had asked a question about my friend's ticket. This is ONLY an iteration of what transpired when she went to court. You all can draw your own conclusions and offer opinions, but I am just the messenger. Please don't shoot me. ;)
skyc6
04-18-2013, 10:52 PM
I have a friend. She has a golf cart. She was driving downhill on a diamond lane and got clocked at 29mph. Stopped by the sheriff and issued a citation. There was no amount on the citation. I now think that was because it wasn't actually a speeding ticket so much as it was a violation, having an unregistered golf cart that was exceeding 20 mph, or whatever that limit is.
Since there was no fine amount stipulated, she had to go to court. I posted that here, and some asked to hear the results. I have received her permission to report the results of her court appearance. I do not remember where the court was.
1. She was wearing shorts. There was a sign on the door that the wearing of shorts was not allowed in the court. Of course, nowhere was that written on the citation, and no way anyone would have known of this. This is Florida, after all, so people were wearing shorts. After much hullabalu, the shorts group was told they would be seen but had to wait till the end of the docket (a few hours).
2. My friend had a certificate from her cart maintenance company that she had, after the citation, had a governor installed that would not allow her cart to exceed the legal limit. The sheriff who issued the citation had told her that if she did this, the fine would probably be limited to court costs.
3. In the end, the fine was limited to court costs. A little under $250. She went to write a check; they don't take checks. Cash, money order, or credit card. Having not enough cash nor money order, she offered her Visa. There was a 2.37% surcharge for paying by credit card. Of course, that upped the price.
4. After you pay the court costs, you are considered "on probation." Want to get off probation? Go to another building a block down the street and pony up an additional $50. And oh, they will only accept money orders. However, you can go across the street to the pharmacy, and for $1, they will issue you a money order, which you then take back across the street and get yourself off of probation. $300+ total. I am not offering an opinion here! Just relating the story.
5. An anecdote: There was a handicapped man who was cited for going 23mph in his cart. He missed his court date by one day. When he showed up the day my friend was there, but earlier in the day, they handcuffed him, arrested him, and put him in jail for 7 hours until his wife could get down there to bail him out. Then he was in court in an orange prison suit. (but at least it wasn't shorts...) He related this story to my friend.
I am only posting this from an informational standpoint, because someone earlier had asked a question about my friend's ticket. This is ONLY an iteration of what transpired when she went to court. You all can draw your own conclusions and offer opinions, but I am just the messenger. Please don't shoot me. ;)
This sounds ridiculous to me. It is an embarrassment to The Villages or wherever it was to have this rat race to go through to pay your fines. To hold a handicapped man in jail for 7 hours in an orange prison suit for driving 3 miles over the speed limit again sounds like Mayberry gone bad!:spoken:
Parker
04-19-2013, 05:40 AM
Just Wow. :ohdear:
mickey100
04-19-2013, 06:22 AM
I can see citing the woman going 29 mph. People like that are a menace. But 23 mph? If you do nothing to the governor on the cart and just increase tire size, you'll inadvertantly up your cart speed by 2-3 mph. And we don't have speed readouts on the carts. Personally I'd rather have them utilize law enforcement at the roundabouts where about every 4th car makes an improper maneuver and endangers other drivers. They could start by concentrating on the roundabouts at Morse and Camino Real, and Buena Vista and Camino Real. Going after drivers that are 3 mph over the speed limit reeks of $$$ - taking in money for fines, IMHO.
CFrance
04-19-2013, 06:30 AM
I forgot to add that my friend was going down a hill when she was clocked at 29. I have no idea what kind of speed you can pick up going down a hill in a golf cart, and it doesn't have a speedometer. Not trying to defend speeding in a golf cart. I imagine you would know or feel that you are over the speed limit.
mulligan
04-19-2013, 06:35 AM
This sounds ridiculous to me. It is an embarrassment to The Villages or wherever it was to have this rat race to go through to pay your fines. To hold a handicapped man in jail for 7 hours in an orange prison suit for driving 3 miles over the speed limit again sounds like Mayberry gone bad!:spoken:
It has very little to do with "The Villages". Those are county sherrif's deputies issuing the citations. They work for the 3 counties.
DandyGirl
04-19-2013, 06:59 AM
The arrest thing happened to a friend of mine who also got the court date wrong and showed up a day late. She was cuffed and jailed on the spot. Seems a little excessive for one traffic violation.
ajbrown
04-19-2013, 07:13 AM
I forgot to add that my friend was going down a hill when she was clocked at 29. I have no idea what kind of speed you can pick up going down a hill in a golf cart, and it doesn't have a speedometer. Not trying to defend speeding in a golf cart. I imagine you would know or feel that you are over the speed limit.
If you have an electric cart like mine with a series motor, there is nothing to measure the speed of the motor to cap the top end speed when coasting. Both of my 2002 Club Cars and the 2000 Par Car I owned were like this.
Even if not "souped up" they will go over 20 going downhill or even a slight downgrade. Even the wind matters believe it or not.
Although 29 MPH is a pretty big hill :shocked:, there is no doubt a cart that I describe could go 23 - 25 on a large down hill. Hopefully the officer on hand takes this into account when stopping a cart clocked at 23 MPH.
IMO the law addresses carts that have been modified to go over 20 MPH. In this case the carts I describe have not been modified and should not be ticketed for going 23 on a downhill. I leave it to others to look up if my opinion holds any water based on how the law is written. In the meantime if you have a cart like that it may be a good idea to get a speedometer.
paulandjean
04-19-2013, 07:15 AM
Funny, I do not see any of the people who posted about golf cart speeding and just take your medicine comments here. I rest my case.Cha-Ching.Fun getting old.......
CFrance
04-19-2013, 07:29 AM
Funny, I do not see any of the people who posted about golf cart speeding and just take your medicine comments here. I rest my case.Cha-Ching.Fun getting old.......
I think that people are trying to keep this on topic and offer opinions and/or information. The intent of my original post was to convey the story of what will happen if you do get cited add have to go to court... bring $, a money order for $50, and don't wear shorts!
And I appreciate my friend's allowing me to relate this incident.
JoeC1947
04-19-2013, 08:00 AM
I for one am glad the golf cart speeders don't get off with a slap on the wrist. Thank you for posting this cfrance, perhaps it will slow some speeders down.
TVMayor
04-19-2013, 08:14 AM
If your job was to catch speeders would you take your radar gun to the top of the hill or the bottom?
The law does not say 20mph on level ground and down hill is optional.
If the law said max 20 round clip 23 or 27 is not close enough.
eremite06
04-19-2013, 08:37 AM
Funny, I do not see any of the people who posted about golf cart speeding and just take your medicine comments here. I rest my case.Cha-Ching.Fun getting old.......
My advice....buy and install a speedometer on your cart.
Shorts are not allowed in the courtroom. Stood jury duty recently and it was stated in the summons.
The handicapped guy was jailed because he failed to appear.
DonH57
04-19-2013, 09:18 AM
I think it's a well written funny story.
buggyone
04-19-2013, 09:38 AM
It was not real clear (to me) in the OP that the golf cart speeder going 29 mph was on a roadway and NOT a multi-modal trail.
Remember, the police do not have jurisdiction on the multi-modal trails for speeders.
If a golf cart was speeding along a public roadway at 29 mph, they should be picked up. The Florida laws say a golf cart is not to travel over 20 mph or it is not a golf cart. The insurance is pretty clear on that, also. If you are in an accident with your cart and going over 20 mph, your insurance may not pay off on the accident and you will be up the creek without your bank account.
bhand48
04-19-2013, 09:42 AM
It would seem that this thread would provoke a response(s) from anyone who actually experienced this type of sheriff/violator contact. It seems these comments are always relayed by others, not the actual person cited.
mickey100
04-19-2013, 10:11 AM
The police don't ticket every automobile that goes 3 mph over the speed limit. They realize that everyone's speedometer may not be calibrated quite the same, the police radar detectors may not be calibrated exactly, and so on. There is always a little leeway. The intent of the law is to keep people traveling at a safe speed. In a golf cart 29 mph is not a safe speed, but IMHO 22-23 mph is no big deal.
manaboutown
04-19-2013, 11:01 AM
To put things in perspective, at 29 mph in a golf cart one is exceeding the 20 mph speed limit by 45%. That would be like speeding in a car at 101.5 mph in a 70 mph zone!
HMLRHT1
04-19-2013, 11:33 AM
It was not real clear (to me) in the OP that the golf cart speeder going 29 mph was on a roadway and NOT a multi-modal trail.
Remember, the police do not have jurisdiction on the multi-modal trails for speeders.
If a golf cart was speeding along a public roadway at 29 mph, they should be picked up. The Florida laws say a golf cart is not to travel over 20 mph or it is not a golf cart. The insurance is pretty clear on that, also. If you are in an accident with your cart and going over 20 mph, your insurance may not pay off on the accident and you will be up the creek without your bank account.
It was posted by the OP that she was in the diamond lane which is only on the road not the multi- modal paths
mickey100
04-19-2013, 11:55 AM
To put things in perspective, at 29 mph in a golf cart one is exceeding the 20 mph speed limit by 45%. That would be like speeding in a car at 101.5 mph in a 70 mph zone!
Mathematically that is correct. Logically, I don't agree with you. You're comparing apples and oranges. Do you really see a big difference from a golf cart going 20 mph vs. a golf cart going 22 or 23 mph? I don't. And unless your speedometer and the police radar detector are calibrated exactly perfectly, they can't reasonably expect to measure such a small difference accurately. Automobile speedometers can be off by as much as 10%, so one could expect similar results in a golf cart speedometer. Police radar guns are warranted to plus or minus 1 mph even if the gun is properly calibrated, so to give someone a ticket for going 2 or 3 mph over the limit - there is obviously room for error. The angle at which the radar gun is pointed also will affect the reading, which could give a variance of another 1 mph or so.
tag460
04-19-2013, 04:04 PM
Thanks for the post. It's Florida but I will have to find a pair of pants if I ever have to go to court.
Deb L
04-19-2013, 04:57 PM
Thanks for the post. It's Florida but I will have to find a pair of pants if I ever have to go to court.
I was just thinking the same thing!
Warren Kiefer
04-19-2013, 05:20 PM
I have a friend. She has a golf cart. She was driving downhill on a diamond lane and got clocked at 29mph. Stopped by the sheriff and issued a citation. There was no amount on the citation. I now think that was because it wasn't actually a speeding ticket so much as it was a violation, having an unregistered golf cart that was exceeding 20 mph, or whatever that limit is.
Since there was no fine amount stipulated, she had to go to court. I posted that here, and some asked to hear the results. I have received her permission to report the results of her court appearance. I do not remember where the court was.
1. She was wearing shorts. There was a sign on the door that the wearing of shorts was not allowed in the court. Of course, nowhere was that written on the citation, and no way anyone would have known of this. This is Florida, after all, so people were wearing shorts. After much hullabalu, the shorts group was told they would be seen but had to wait till the end of the docket (a few hours).
2. My friend had a certificate from her cart maintenance company that she had, after the citation, had a governor installed that would not allow her cart to exceed the legal limit. The sheriff who issued the citation had told her that if she did this, the fine would probably be limited to court costs.
3. In the end, the fine was limited to court costs. A little under $250. She went to write a check; they don't take checks. Cash, money order, or credit card. Having not enough cash nor money order, she offered her Visa. There was a 2.37% surcharge for paying by credit card. Of course, that upped the price.
4. After you pay the court costs, you are considered "on probation." Want to get off probation? Go to another building a block down the street and pony up an additional $50. And oh, they will only accept money orders. However, you can go across the street to the pharmacy, and for $1, they will issue you a money order, which you then take back across the street and get yourself off of probation. $300+ total. I am not offering an opinion here! Just relating the story.
5. An anecdote: There was a handicapped man who was cited for going 23mph in his cart. He missed his court date by one day. When he showed up the day my friend was there, but earlier in the day, they handcuffed him, arrested him, and put him in jail for 7 hours until his wife could get down there to bail him out. Then he was in court in an orange prison suit. (but at least it wasn't shorts...) He related this story to my friend.
I am only posting this from an informational standpoint, because someone earlier had asked a question about my friend's ticket. This is ONLY an iteration of what transpired when she went to court. You all can draw your own conclusions and offer opinions, but I am just the messenger. Please don't shoot me. ;)
I find it strange that you recall so many things in detail, yet you don't remember the court location. It could have only been one of the counties. Is this whole story satire and you having fun....
CFrance
04-19-2013, 05:33 PM
I find it strange that you recall so many things in detail, yet you don't remember the court location. It could have only been one of the counties. Is this whole story satire and you having fun....
I didn't recognize the name of the court location, and so it didn't stick with me. If you think I am making this up, go speeding downhill in your golf cart in front of the sheriff. See for yourself what happens. (Wear long pants.)
manaboutown
04-19-2013, 06:23 PM
Where did she find that much of a hill in Florida? She had to have had the pedal to the metal and no governor.
She could have ended up in Boot Hill.
CFrance
04-19-2013, 06:27 PM
Where did she find that much of a hill in Florida? She had to have had the pedal to the metal and no governor.
She could have ended up in Boot Hill.
Could be... I only asked for the court info. I wasn't going to embarrass her by prying more into what she did wrong and why she did it. There are quite a few hills in TV. They may be long and gradual, but you could build up speed, IMO.
Again, the purpose of the post was to impart information about the procedures when you have to go to court.
OnTrack
04-19-2013, 07:09 PM
Funny, I do not see any of the people who posted about golf cart speeding and just take your medicine comments here. I rest my case.Cha-Ching.Fun getting old.......
Oh snap! :D
.
ajbrown
04-19-2013, 08:00 PM
Where did she find that much of a hill in Florida? She had to have had the pedal to the metal and no governor.
She could have ended up in Boot Hill.
I did a test tonight when picking up dinner. We headed south on Odell (between Mallory and Havana) starting at Stillwater . There are two pretty good downhill stretches.
I was in a cart that is built to not exceed 20 MPH, but it is a series motor, so no regen breaking and it rolls free. At the top of the each down hill I was going 19ish. At the crest I let off the go pedal and coasted. On both hills I reached a speed of 23ish.
I suspect if I had pedal to the medal it would be much faster down the hill. If you have that type of car and I see many older Club Cars out there, sounds like you need to be aware of your speed downhill even if the cart if built to only go 19ish.
Dr Winston O Boogie jr
04-19-2013, 08:12 PM
If your job was to catch speeders would you take your radar gun to the top of the hill or the bottom?
The law does not say 20mph on level ground and down hill is optional.
If the law said max 20 round clip 23 or 27 is not close enough.
The law does not talk about a speed limit. The law defines a golf cart as a vehicle that goes up to 19.9 mph, can be driven on certain streets in specified lanes and does not have to be registered and does not require safety equipment such as a solid windshield, windshield wipers and seat belts. A cart that goes 20 mph is define as a low speed vehicle and must be registered if it is driven on streets and must have all of the same safety equipment as a car.
Dr Winston O Boogie jr
04-19-2013, 08:29 PM
The story about the court sounds like what goes on the The Philippines. Every time you go to some government office it's no shorts and no sandals. Everyone there wears shorts and sandals almost everywhere. They stand at the door and stop you from coming in. I did notice however that many of the female employees were wearing sandals. There is often a little store across the street that sells used pants socks and shoes.
Then when you getin, you go to whatever window you need to go to they always require a certain number of photo copies of whatever you are submitting. There is always, very conveniently, someone on the other side of the room with a copy machine doing a brisk business for 3 peos a copy.
Then you are sent to a "lawyer" to have the form that you filled out refilled out "correctly" by a lawyer. So you go to the lawyer who fills out the form exactly the same way that you did, but you pay him 300 pesos and bring the form back. Then you are sent to another window where you pay a few hundred pesos for another form that you bring back to the first window.
It's one of the main reasons that I moved back here. I hope that our government doesn't turn to that way of doing business.
OnTrack
04-19-2013, 08:35 PM
I did a test tonight when picking up dinner. We headed south on Odell (between Mallory and Havana) starting at Stillwater . There are two pretty good downhill stretches.
I was in a cart that is built to not exceed 20 MPH, but it is a series motor, so no regen breaking and it rolls free. At the top of the each down hill I was going 19ish. At the crest I let off the go pedal and coasted. On both hills I reached a speed of 23ish.
I suspect if I had pedal to the medal it would be much faster down the hill. If you have that type of car and I see many older Club Cars out there, sounds like you need to be aware of your speed downhill even if the cart if built to only go 19ish.
Mine tops out at 38mph.....going uphill.
The biggest problem being......the noise emanating from the seat area.
It seems when I pop a wheelie cresting a hill.....my wife starts screaming.
.
collie1228
04-20-2013, 08:45 AM
That pedal on the right is the accelerator. Take your foot off it and the cart goes slower. And the one on the left? It's the brake and it slows you down. Anyone doing 29 in a golf cart needs to know these things.
sharonga
07-05-2013, 02:58 PM
Florida seems to be its own country!! Hope I don't get a knock on my door.
rubicon
07-05-2013, 03:31 PM
I wonder if that LSV was one that received Marlene O'Toole's insurance waiver?:D
It appears to me that a large percentage of the golf carts and especially the gas golf carts exceed 19.9 and go upward to 25mph. Some go much faster.
It also appears that the owners of those faux LSV's are not members of TOTV and they have either don't know or don't care about the possibility of being issued a ticket.
I try and find the good in all things and guess the benefit of many fast moving carts is that our pathways don't get clogged up.
I was an offender once and got religion and now I am a 19.9 mph kind of guy.
I will make one personal disclosure...A guy yelled at me the other day that my right mechanical signal was on. I yelled back, I know. I want to see how long it will operate on its own. Sorry now for being a nudge:D
P.S. I believe that while a person gets a ticket for 23mph the cart actually goes much faster and perhaps the sheriff tested that issue?????
CFrance
07-05-2013, 04:38 PM
I wonder if that LSV was one that received Marlene O'Toole's insurance waiver?:D
It appears to me that a large percentage of the golf carts and especially the gas golf carts exceed 19.9 and go upward to 25mph. Some go much faster.
It also appears that the owners of those faux LSV's are not members of TOTV and they have either don't know or don't care about the possibility of being issued a ticket.
I try and find the good in all things and guess the benefit of many fast moving carts is that our pathways don't get clogged up.
I was an offender once and got religion and now I am a 19.9 mph kind of guy.
I will make one personal disclosure...A guy yelled at me the other day that my right mechanical signal was on. I yelled back, I know. I want to see how long it will operate on its own. Sorry now for being a nudge:D
P.S. I believe that while a person gets a ticket for 23mph the cart actually goes much faster and perhaps the sheriff tested that issue?????
I was the OP (many months ago), and I can attest to the fact that my friend's golf cart no longer has the ability to exceed 19.9. Live and learn... albeit some of life's learning experiences are a bit pricier than others.
As for the turn signal thing--tsk, tsk, Rubicon! Funny answer! But it's a little nerve-wracking to be behind a cart with left turn signal flashing. Did they forget? Do they mean it? You could take a chance and pass, but... :22yikes:
Villages PL
07-05-2013, 04:45 PM
I forgot to add that my friend was going down a hill when she was clocked at 29. I have no idea what kind of speed you can pick up going down a hill in a golf cart, and it doesn't have a speedometer. Not trying to defend speeding in a golf cart. I imagine you would know or feel that you are over the speed limit.
I clocked a golf cart going 30 m.p.h. on a level road so I know that some of them are capable of going that fast
I have a gas golf cart and when I am going down hill the cart doesn't increase in speed but seems to maintain its top governed speed even with the pedal to the metal the motor is not running anymore. It feels the same to me as when you are going down hill in a car with the cruise on, the car doesn't accelerate but maintains the cruise controlled speed that is set.
NotGolfer
07-05-2013, 09:39 PM
We have an LSV...I've had gas carts pass me when I've been on the flat going "rabbit speed"!!
I've been in my SUV on Stillwater and "clocked" a gas cart :(not an LSV) that was going at least 30 mph if not a bit more.
There was an article in today's Sun about golf-cart safety as well as The Villages Magazine that came out earlier this week.
justjim
07-05-2013, 10:23 PM
There is a very steep hill on Stillwater going north from Odell. I can see how easily your cart could be over the speed limit going down that hill. It seems to me that a Deputy should have something "better" to do than giving out speeding tickets to Village residents going downhill in a golf cart. This is what I call a "speed trap" and IMHO it's over the top aggressive police behavior. I have no problem with Deputies clocking Carts on a flat surface roadway---and if going 25mph or more give a ticket----under 25 a warning ticket for first offense. No disrespect but a little common sense goes a long way.
HMLRHT1
07-05-2013, 11:06 PM
Justjim,
I am someone who has a cart that goes faster than 19.9 mph. I choose to do this because I like the ability to have more power/ speed if I need it. Rarely do I do more than 20-21. I dont care what others think of what I should or shouldnt do. I know the consequences. When my cart was in the original condition it would not go faster than 20 even down hill. The SCSO are not looking so much for speeding as they are for the bigger or larger fine of having a non registered motor vehicle which is a cart when it goes over 20 mph. So letting someone go if they r doing 22-23 is still a violation of law as it is now a non registered motor vehicle rather than a golf cart. Why do I choose to run this risk? The same reason I guess that everyone who drives down Morse or Buena Vista faster than 35 and faster than 30 on Odell or Bonita or those who go out and drink every night and drive their carts or cars home and are legally drunk.
THE NEWCOMER
07-06-2013, 02:15 AM
Justjim,
I am someone who has a cart that goes faster than 19.9 mph. I choose to do this because I like the ability to have more power/ speed if I need it. Rarely do I do more than 20-21. I dont care what others think of what I should or shouldnt do. I know the consequences. When my cart was in the original condition it would not go faster than 20 even down hill. The SCSO are not looking so much for speeding as they are for the bigger or larger fine of having a non registered motor vehicle which is a cart when it goes over 20 mph. So letting someone go if they r doing 22-23 is still a violation of law as it is now a non registered motor vehicle rather than a golf cart. Why do I choose to run this risk? The same reason I guess that everyone who drives down Morse or Buena Vista faster than 35 and faster than 30 on Odell or Bonita or those who go out and drink every night and drive their carts or cars home and are legally drunk.
I AGREE! I'm an adult so I'll pay the fines for doing the crime! I feel the need for speed! I don't own a cart but when I rent one I ask for a fast one!
rubicon
07-06-2013, 06:09 AM
I was the OP (many months ago), and I can attest to the fact that my friend's golf cart no longer has the ability to exceed 19.9. Live and learn... albeit some of life's learning experiences are a bit pricier than others.
As for the turn signal thing--tsk, tsk, Rubicon! Funny answer! But it's a little nerve-wracking to be behind a cart with left turn signal flashing. Did they forget? Do they mean it? You could take a chance and pass, but... :22yikes:
Hi CFrance: Agree like smoking the worse thing I did but when I quit in 1973 the best thing I did. So too with dropping my speed as it is more relaxing and less of hurting someone, etc.
Also agree regarding signal. I have a Club Car and the mechanical signal is silent. Although I did joke with the guy I also silenced my signal. And I actually do feel badly about it being on unnecessarily
rubicon
07-06-2013, 09:23 AM
I am an adult and I will go as fast as I want to and I don't care what other people think. Hmmmmm gives one a reason to pause. Well to each his/her own. We are after all..all friends here
keithwand
07-06-2013, 09:31 AM
Justjim,
I am someone who has a cart that goes faster than 19.9 mph. I choose to do this because I like the ability to have more power/ speed if I need it. Rarely do I do more than 20-21. I dont care what others think of what I should or shouldnt do. I know the consequences. When my cart was in the original condition it would not go faster than 20 even down hill. The SCSO are not looking so much for speeding as they are for the bigger or larger fine of having a non registered motor vehicle which is a cart when it goes over 20 mph. So letting someone go if they r doing 22-23 is still a violation of law as it is now a non registered motor vehicle rather than a golf cart. Why do I choose to run this risk? The same reason I guess that everyone who drives down Morse or Buena Vista faster than 35 and faster than 30 on Odell or Bonita or those who go out and drink every night and drive their carts or cars home and are legally drunk.
I agree!
:gc::gc:
Villages PL
07-06-2013, 11:29 AM
This morning I clocked an LSV doing 30 on a golf-cart path. Isn't the speed limit supposed to be 20 wherever it's not posted?
memason
07-06-2013, 11:44 AM
This morning I clocked an LSV doing 30 on a golf-cart path. Isn't the speed limit supposed to be 20 wherever it's not posted?
What are you doing clocking carts???
I thought you were the food police! :loco:
Villages PL
07-06-2013, 11:51 AM
What are you doing clocking carts???
I thought you were the food police! :loco:
I thought I saw a bag of fast food on the back of the cart and was ready to make a citizen's arrest on two counts: 1) speeding and 2) nutrition violation
:police:....:police:....:police:
LndLocked
07-06-2013, 03:58 PM
This morning I clocked an LSV doing 30 on a golf-cart path. Isn't the speed limit supposed to be 20 wherever it's not posted?
What is that and where are they located? I know where Multi-modal / Recreational Trails are .... and I know where "Diamond Lanes" are .... but "golf-cart path" ???
quirky3
07-06-2013, 04:18 PM
CFrance, thank you for going the extra mile and posting this to help people.
Duckfinger2
07-06-2013, 04:57 PM
WOW How many arm chair quarterbacks are there ? Life is about choices you either choose to follow the rules or you don't. Then be adult about dealing with the out come if you make a bad choice. For all the arm chair quarterbacks did you ever go over the speed limit in your car ?
buggyone
07-06-2013, 06:18 PM
WOW How many arm chair quarterbacks are there ? Life is about choices you either choose to follow the rules or you don't. Then be adult about dealing with the out come if you make a bad choice. For all the arm chair quarterbacks did you ever go over the speed limit in your car ?
Those "bad choices" can adversly affect others. If some moron is speeding at 30 mph to pass my cart which is going 19.5 and suddenly swerves back into my cart, I am going to be affected by his stupidity. Sure, he will be cited by the police, pay a large fine, and he will be sued by me - but I will still have been injured by someone who just wanted to pursue his own choice of not following the law.
I am afraid your "life is about choices of either following the rules or not" philosophy does not hold water.
shcisamax
07-06-2013, 07:31 PM
florida seems to be its own country!! Hope i don't get a knock on my door.
me too!
gustavo
07-06-2013, 10:41 PM
Justjim,
I am someone who has a cart that goes faster than 19.9 mph. I choose to do this because I like the ability to have more power/ speed if I need it. Rarely do I do more than 20-21. I dont care what others think of what I should or shouldnt do. I know the consequences. When my cart was in the original condition it would not go faster than 20 even down hill. The SCSO are not looking so much for speeding as they are for the bigger or larger fine of having a non registered motor vehicle which is a cart when it goes over 20 mph. So letting someone go if they r doing 22-23 is still a violation of law as it is now a non registered motor vehicle rather than a golf cart. Why do I choose to run this risk? The same reason I guess that everyone who drives down Morse or Buena Vista faster than 35 and faster than 30 on Odell or Bonita or those who go out and drink every night and drive their carts or cars home and are legally drunk.
Anyone operating a "golf cart" that can exceed 20 mph should either have no assets or a ton of assets. You are basically self insuring yourself regarding liability from an incident involving such a vehicle. Those with a ton of assets will not mind the self insurance, those with no assets have nothing to loose. It's those who have a moderate net worth that will suffer tremendously when your 20+ mph vehicle taps a pedestrian at a town square going 5 mph and that pedestrian falls and breaks a bone and sues you for everything you're worth. Since your vehicle can go faster than 20 mph, even if you thought you had insurance your company will be glad to inform you that the insurance you thought you had does not cover a vehicle that can exceed 20 mph. Your on your own with regard to the lawsuit. But it is worth it as you will get to where you are going at least 2 or 3 minutes faster than a legal cart. Good luck to all the self insurers, you may/will need it some day.
buggyone
07-06-2013, 11:10 PM
Anyone operating a "golf cart" that can exceed 20 mph should either have no assets or a ton of assets. You are basically self insuring yourself regarding liability from an incident involving such a vehicle. Those with a ton of assets will not mind the self insurance, those with no assets have nothing to loose. It's those who have a moderate net worth that will suffer tremendously when your 20+ mph vehicle taps a pedestrian at a town square going 5 mph and that pedestrian falls and breaks a bone and sues you for everything you're worth. Since your vehicle can go faster than 20 mph, even if you thought you had insurance your company will be glad to inform you that the insurance you thought you had does not cover a vehicle that can exceed 20 mph. Your on your own with regard to the lawsuit. But it is worth it as you will get to where you are going at least 2 or 3 minutes faster than a legal cart. Good luck to all the self insurers, you may/will need it some day.
Actually, the Florida 5th Court of Appeals overturned a decision a few days ago. The insurance company is responsible for damages caused by a "souped up" cart. The article was in either Friday's or Saturday's Daily Sun and was on the financial page, I believe.
Duckfinger2
07-07-2013, 12:29 PM
WOW ..... The arm chair qaurterbacks jump to the glass half empty, yes we are covered with insurance, and you are guessing our cart can go more than 19.5 mph. Then the next jump you go right to anyone who there cart goes over 19.5 is a bad driver. There are several of slow carts and / or cars that pull right out in front of you. So there should be more than enough people to sue if you are not a defensive, cautious driver. And if that glass is still half empty you can choose other options to get around but there are danagers in driving a car, walking, riding a bike, but hey that is just more people to sue ! So life is all good ! !
rubicon
07-07-2013, 01:29 PM
WOW ..... The arm chair qaurterbacks jump to the glass half empty, yes we are covered with insurance, and you are guessing our cart can go more than 19.5 mph. Then the next jump you go right to anyone who there cart goes over 19.5 is a bad driver. There are several of slow carts and / or cars that pull right out in front of you. So there should be more than enough people to sue if you are not a defensive, cautious driver. And if that glass is still half empty you can choose other options to get around but there are danagers in driving a car, walking, riding a bike, but hey that is just more people to sue ! So life is all good ! !
Hi duckfinger2: I too have full coverage insurance on my golf cart and it can only reach 19.9mph. The reason I have insurance is because of those golf carts that go wee wee wee all the way home. I am not judging them to be bad drivers but 40 years in insurance has taught me what unsafe speed can create and some of those results over the years brought tears to my eyes.
Personal Best Regards:
Ragman
07-07-2013, 03:01 PM
Actually, the Florida 5th Court of Appeals overturned a decision a few days ago. The insurance company is responsible for damages caused by a "souped up" cart. The article was in either Friday's or Saturday's Daily Sun and was on the financial page, I believe.
Now is when the golf cart clauses will start showing up on auto insurance policy quotes and renewals:
Do you own a "golf cart' and use it on public roads?
If so there will be a hefty extra premium or you will need to submit an affidavit to the effect it will not exceed 19.9 MPH and you have it insured as an off road vehicle.
This will be in legalese but it will be coming.
:gc: :22yikes:
buggyone
07-07-2013, 03:19 PM
"If so there will be a hefty extra premium or you will need to submit an affidavit to the effect it will not exceed 19.9 MPH and you have it insured as an off road vehicle."
You are probably right. My cart would have no problem with the 19.9 mph requirement and I do have a separate golf cart insurance policy. I worked too long and too hard to have my savings taken by someone's lawsuit. On the other hand, I can increase my bank account by suing some toad who causes me injury with their negligence on their souped up cart or by letting their grandkids drive unsupervised.
Villages PL
07-07-2013, 06:35 PM
Those "bad choices" can adversly affect others. If some moron is speeding at 30 mph to pass my cart which is going 19.5 and suddenly swerves back into my cart, I am going to be affected by his stupidity. Sure, he will be cited by the police, pay a large fine, and he will be sued by me - but I will still have been injured by someone who just wanted to pursue his own choice of not following the law.
I am afraid your "life is about choices of either following the rules or not" philosophy does not hold water.
Thanks, buggyone, I couldn't have said it better.
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