Registration for all golf carts?
 

This was brought up (I guess as a joke) in another thread, but it poses an interesting point of discussion.

What would be wrong with a registration process and proof of ability to drive for all golf carts operating in the Villages? Perhaps the registration would be free or minimal cost.

What are the pros and cons of a mandatory registration. I know there are people adamantly against it, I'm curious why?

The possibility of losing the registration would likely discourage people from allowing their underage grandchildren to drive. It would keep people who are no longer physically able from driving.

Be very careful what you ask for. No bureaucracy is free so a registration process would have to be paid for somehow. I cannot see any benefit since liability for underage and incompetent drivers already rests with the owner of the cart and can be enforced already without registration. Slippery slope from registering carts to registering bicycles, lawn mowers, and roller blades.

Enough Government

More Personal responsibility

Aren't the roads in The Villages "public" roads, regulated by Florida state laws?

Nowhere in my post did I "ask for it." I brought it up for discussion.

When I was a kid, we had to register our bicycles and purchase a purchase a license.

TH:

Let a bad idea die a graceful death :crap2:

Why is it a bad idea?

If we relied on personal responsibility, then we could take down all the speed limit signs, the stop signs (which are ignored anyhow) and the traffic signals.

Actually this might be a good idea. I'm really surprised that insurance companies haven't asked for some type of registration (theft, accident, etc). I have seen posts in the past that mentioned elderly people who cannot get a driver's license due to some impairment are now driving golf carts in TV. I don't like additional governmental interference but this could curtail underage and "overage" driving. Good topic for discussion.:rant-rave:

Does current driver's licensing and vehicle registration insure driver compendentcy? Prevent DUI?

No, it does not, but it provides a means of control when infractions occur. Without the ability to revoke a driving privilege, what can the authorities do when people violate the rules of "personal responsibility."

What problem is everyone trying to correct? Requirements for driving on the roads should be higher because of speed and complexity. My parents, who I did not believe should be driving, recently moved to FL. The obtained their new driver's licenses without having to take a written or road test. I guess the state of FL feels things are going well with the current laws. As far as under age drivers, the Neighhood Watch people could enforce the current rulings without creating another government agency.

I like the person's response that said, let a bad idea die quitely.

Amen.....................

Why is it a bad idea?

One of the beauties of TV is the fact that you can get every service or need via golf cart. Knowing that the day will come when my drivers license will need shredding, having the ability to get around via golf cart was one of the reasons why we picked TV as the "end of the rainbow."

There is only two golf cart "problem" here (to me, anyway): 1) "souped-up" carts which do greater than 19.5 MPH; and 2) the dumb-bell grandparents who let <14 year-old kids drive the carts either by themselves or while sitting in the driver's lap. #1 will get taken care of by existing law enforcement as it sees fit; #2 will probably be a matter fixed by natural selection.

Other than that - if it works, don't fix it!

SteveZ gets my vote.

I read all the posts so far. As to the "slippery slope" theory - :agree:

As to the "If it ain't broke, don't fox it" theory - :agree:

As to the "Transport of last resort" theory - :agree:

As to the "Let a bad idea die a natural death" theory - :agree:

As to the "Let it go away quietly" theory - :agree: but please let it go away faster!

:beer3:

:agree:
:agree:
:agree:
with Bryan.

Yes, it would be nice to slow down the speeders.

Yes, it would be nice to keep the underage grandchildren from driving. Note: it should be easy, too. You can't nor would you let them drive your automobile. (I hope!)

But, aren't we all over-regulated as it is? And, I do NOT mean just Villagers.

SWR

I presume that you also include every golf cart in the country that is operated. Shell we restrict by age? Free this year, $50 next?

TH, You have too much time on your hands. I still remember the last idea you had.:a20:

Yoda

PS As to your 2 pros, Not much gain for the freedom lost, don't you think?

What idea was it that has you rolling on the floor laughing?

I guess you are saying that when a person becomes so incapacitated that they have to shred their drivers license, that it's still okay for them to drive a golf cart. When exactly should an incapacitated person stop driving a golf cart? Who shall make that decision?

Item #2. I hope that the natural selection of these underage drivers doesn't come at the hands of an innocent driver into whose path they veer.

Would a required golf cart drivers safety course when you get your initial permanent ID fill the bill? It could include an overview on the use of roundabouts as well. I don’t know if this exists but if an orientation to using the cart paths and negotiating the roundabouts was given I would take it first week I was down.

Yeah, TH, but remember back then bicycles had just been invented and there probably weren't two dozen of them in your entire state. You and Butch. . .

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnIoBTLElNA[/ame]

This is really a good post. TH, you definitely have put something out there that has stopped the political stuff for a little while. When a community is designated as a "golf cart" community, there should be rules. Why should someone who couldn't pass a drivers test be allowed to drive another type of vehicle (golf cart) which is equally as dangerous. I think the issue will boil down to "whose ox is gored". If you are the one who is wronged by a driver who isn't competent for whatever reason, then you will howl the loudest. If it hasn't bothered you yet, then let the good times roll. Moving to TV isn't a license to endanger others. Not trying to p__s anyone off, just playing devil
s advocate.

I think it does exist. In fact it did because I attended a such an orientation and got a sticker to attach to my golf cart windshield to prove it. It coverd golf carts and roundabouts.
I believe such orientations are announced in the Daily Sun. The information number at the VCDD should get an answer for you when you get down here.

I think TH has a point here. I have heard many Villagers say we should be required to register golf carts so why not "talk" about it here? I didn't see where TH suggested it and reading between the lines gives no clue where he stands on the subject. All he seems to be looking for is a yea or nay.
My response is nay. I see little benefit.

But please, no golf carts on the roundabouts (or rotaries as we called them in Mass)...

Attended a VHA meeting last nite where the sheriff spoke about the stickers. They were done away with awhile ago. He indicated there is something similar that's being discussed, but the stickers no longer exit.

1. There's several people I know who can comfortably and safely operate a golf cart who have realized that they should not be behind the wheel of something weighing a ton or more and moving between 25-70MPH. There's no appreciable difference between operating a golf cart and a hoverround, as long as the golf cart isn't "souped up." That's why we have separate roadways for the carts. It's the folk who consider their golf carts the same as midget racers who are "inconvenienced" by those who operate their carts at other-than-full-throttle. This is TV - what's the rush?

2. It will happen, and then the grandparents will of course blame everyone other than themselves. One thing is for sure - you just can't legislate away stupidity. I saw a tee-shirt the other day with the saying: The difference between Genius and Stupidity is Genius has its limits.

I personally feel that mandatory cart registration and insurance is coming down the road anyway. Right now, with all I have seen and heard, many individuals feel entitled to drive their carts without using turn signals, overloaded with passengers, child operators, wreckless operation and intoxicated operators. There have also been carts abandoned and/or broken down and left in hazardous positions with no way of knowing who the owner is. IMHO there needs to be more responsibility to the owners and those they allow to operate their vehicles. Let's not overlook the many serious injuries and fatalities that have occurred involving golf carts. On top of it all, The Villages is still growing and so will the number of carts.

Good Post
 

Steve, as usual, you bring a little common sense to the thread. My husband no longer drives but is very capable with the cart. He doesn't drive because if he has to go outside TV, I have to go since he has problems communicating. If I have to go anyway, what's the point for him to drive. (Yes, he does have a license.) Within TV he goes everywhere, very often alone, and knows shortcuts that I wouldn't think about. He's an avid golfer and knows the best routes to the courses so he usually drives when we play together. Our cart is set at 19.6 mph which is plenty. For those that feel the need to go faster.....plan ahead and leave earlier. Simple solution.

I thought this idea of registration (within TV only) was for a means of identifying carts to be sure #1 that they are Villagers who pay for the paths, etc., and #2 as identifiers on the courses, for instance, since so many look alike or in the event of thefts, etc.

Unfortunately Steve, it aint working. I have a post under the heading of "golf carts". Please read it. You may change your mind about registration. This guy ran a car off the road (only to avoid him) and could have seriously injured himself or someone else because he was riding on the roads with an illegal cart with signs on the front and back of his cart saying "Street Legal". It was NOT street legal. The cart had a split windshield. I have no problem with registration if it keeps these idiots off the road.

All You Gotta Do
 

Shazam, is call the SO and report the illegal "street legal" cart and where it is. If he is in the street or roundabouts and is not legally street legal or is causing safety issues, they will nail him.

What's SO? Sorry, I'm new here. Just moved into Bonita last month.
Thought about calling the Sumter sheriff, but figured by the time they got there, he'd be long gone.

Sorry, maybe it wasn't you.

Yoda

SO = Sheriff's Office = Sumter sheriff.

Are you suggesting that we do this for every golf cart on every golf course in the country?

How about every golf cart?

That's what will happen.

Yoda

You might be suprised how quick they will get there, there are cars in the Villages all the time.

Golf Carts?
 

Do you have any Idea how fast a golf ball goes? The damage that it can do?
Shouldn't golfers be required to show a minimum of control over the ball? Perhaps for public safety sake a golfer must keep 95% of drives on a 60 foot wide fairway? The number of people struck by golf balls hit by elderly golfers is outrageous. Perhaps ones qualification sticker should be displayed on ones golf cart. If you can pass the driving test.

Yoda

With tongue firmly planted in cheek

When is a golf cart no longer a golf cart?
 

This goes back to what is a golf cart vs LSV or NEV. If it goes over 25 MPH it is supposed to be registered by State because it is not a golf cart.

Granted responsibility always rests with owner/operator but there is hardly a day that goes by when you see evidence of lack of responsibility and disregard for traffic laws, failure to obey traffic signals/signs/ speed limits and the use of carts by underage drivers.

How would this work. Grab your cell phone, call the sheriff (not on 911 because it's not an emergency) and say, "there's a cart going down the road with a "street legal" sign on it, and I don't think it's street legal."

The dispatcher says, "where is this cart now." You say, "it's in the Morse Circle" "Okay" says the dispatcher, "We,ll have a car there in 10 minutes."

"10 MInutes?" you say, " the cart will be long gone by then." The dispatcher says, " can you describe this cart, does it have a (gulp) registration number on it?" OOOOPS. "No registration, not here in the Villages." Dispatcher, "Thanks for your call, is there anything else I can help you with today?"