Villages Golf Cart Store Breaks The Law?
 

I was at Gordon's Garage (The Villages Golf Carts) at Lake Sumter Landing today to have a repair done to my cart. When I was paying, I asked the cashier if their shop increases the speed of carts to over the 20 mph limit. She told me that they will do the speed change - but they tell the customer it is illegal and, if in an accident or caught by the police, will result in a fine. I then verified her story with a couple of salesmen.

I think it is very irresponsible of one of the companies owned by The Villages to facilitate breaking the law.

It is akin to a gun dealer knowingly selling a gun to a convicted felon or a liquor store knowingly selling booze to a 12 year old. They can say we are telling you it is illegal but it is your choice.

I think that the Sumter County Sheriff or State of Florida Motor Vehicles should know of this.

Whoa Richard.

Your car goes past the speed limit. The driver is the person who controls the speed.

There are isolated times when a person needs more speed to maneuver away from another driver who might harm him/her.




or just to move along a little quicker when no one is behind or ahead of him.

It is illegal to drive more than 20MPH....it shouldn't be illegal to fix a cart to go more than the legal speed limit.

Sandtrap, I agree with you, further, I would think the GC company could be incurring some liability by doing this.

This has been discussed ad nauseam. Cars and golf carts are different with respect to the law.

I understand what you are saying but - this time - I disagree with you. Maybe after the A/C is repaired, you will agree with me. Drink plenty of ice water!

So. It is illegal to own or sell a cart or change a cart to one than can go faster than 20MPH?

I respect your judgement.

Google the law or do a search on ToTV.

As I understand it, if your cart CAN exceed 20 mph on flat ground, it is no longer a golf cart but a Low Speed Vehicle. It must be inspected for safety features such as wipers and seatbelts. It must be insured. It must have current law license plates. It's maximum speed is 25 mph. It may be driven on roads that have a 35 or less speed limit.

If caught by a policeman, you will be charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle and it is an extremely expensive thing.

If I am incorrect, please let me know. Thanks.

Here is what I found. The law changed July 1st 2013?

New Florida Golf Cart Law in Effect | WUSF News


It isn't very clear to me after reading this what is legal and not legal.

This has been going on an on
 

Most of the golf carts in the Villages do not have license plates on them. As an unregistered motorized vehicle the maximum speed that it can go is 20 mph. That is potential maximum speed. If, you CHOOSE, to have a golf cart set up to do more than 20 mph you must put plates on it-register it-have INSURANCE and have a valid drivers license.

The next time you have your automobile serviced remind them
To make sure your auto won't go any faster than the national speed limit
Or they will be breaking the law

It's nice to have a good relationship with Chuck Farrell. ;) never without AC for more than a couple hours.

:popcorn:

:popcorn:

:popcorn:

Here we go.

Cars have speedometers, golf carts do not--if I bought a new golf cart and or I had one recently serviced ,I would bring a copy of the sales/service order& drag the company into court as a co-defendant--I know some lawyer would quote chapter & verse--but if enough people did this the carts would be certified @ less than 20 mph when sold not after you get a violation--really these shops should have their certification pulled, as to being a certified shop for remediation

I do not agree here. Your car will go 120 mph probably but that is illegal probably no where but the Autobahn and a racetrack plus various other places far from Florida. https://www.german-way.com/travel-an...-the-autobahn/

Hey ST...you never told us whether or not you had it done!?! :D :beer3: :beer3: :laugh:

From the Florida statute 210.01 Definitions, general

(22) “Golf cart” means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine

You will find out Tuesday. Go Polar Bears!

Pretty simple judging by this video. How to Adjust Governor on Yamaha G29 Drive Gas Golf Cart | Speed Increase - YouTube

For an electric cart: How To Make Your Golf Cart Faster | GolfCarCatalog.com Blog

I kinda wonder if a licensed shop doing this might be liable for an ensuing accident due to speeding over 20 mph.

Higher gearing might be the safest way to go as far as engine life is concerned.

My golf cart came with a speedometer, new. I also make sure that it cannot exceed 20 MPH by instructing the service folks to make sure the governor is properly set.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

"Not capable" is the key phrase here.

The Villages Golf Carts is definitely breaking the law, by being the entity that allows an otherwise 'golf cart'... to be capable of speeds in excess of 20 mph.

While we will never see the story in the Sun, there WILL be a case soon whereby someone gets popped by the police for going too fast and then sues the VGC or tells the cops that it was the dealer that set it up that way...or BOTH.

In other words, those who want Gordon's Garage to do it for them (although it's very easy to do yourself and then you become the one culpable for the modification) better hurry...before they quit doing it due to liability issues.

Might be wise to check one's top cart speed out on a Garmin, smartphone GPS or such. I suspected my new SUV's speedometer was reading about 3 mph too fast at highway speeds so I hooked my Garmin up when I drove it and I was right. When I go in for its first service I will get it adjusted.

the way it sounds is for $40.one time fee you can get a tag to drive 25mph whenever,is that right?

No, you read it wrong.

The law was telling how to take your "low speed vehicle" from being capable of going 25 mph DOWN to a golf cart capable of going only 20 mph.

The newly redesigned CART would no longer need insurance, license plates, or safety equipment - and could go no faster than 20 mph.

Good luck getting it changed/adjusted, as they may tell you that it is within the 'acceptable range.'

Speedometer Scandal! - Feature - Car and Driver

There have even been allegations over the years that some manufacturers have set their speedo's higher than you're actually going (therefore showing more miles traveled than actual)...simply to reach the warranty limit sooner. :shrug:

I'd never drive it at any speed without insurance.

While it is not required, I have insurance on my golf cart. I think it is a worthwhile thing to do.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Insurance is to protect YOU, if you've got nothing to lose--you don't need insurance--if you've got real assets , you need insurance- and I'm not talking the minimum that Fl requires for car insurance a $5 million dollar umbrella should be considered as a minimum over your car insurance

It also protects me from those without insurance who think they are Dale Jr. The first month I had my cart I was stopped at an exec course waiting to move to the cart parking area. There were carts stopped and lined up behind me. Someone who thought he was Tiger Woods came toward me counting the $2 he had just won. Despite my hitting the horn, he drove right into my front end head on. He didn't know what insurance meant, much less have any.

I know what insurance is for.

Wrong. Many golf carts have speedometers. Mine does.

That is not what the law says.

This law is only applicable on roadways. I have never heard of some one getting a ticket for speeding on the multi modal paths or the golf course. The law is not applicable at all on private property. You can go as fast as you want on private property in a golf cart or a car. The mechanic would not be held responsible if he souped a car or cart to go 200 mph and someone got killed at a drag strip.
My cart goes 19 mph.

Don't forget that every road in each of the different Villages (except CYV's)...are public.

Then of course, the most likely spots of getting popped would be roads like Morris Blvd...where you're driving on the edge of the roadway.

I've also heard of the police setting up traps on heavily used areas...where the cart lane is part of the roadway.

Great news! I can now continue developing wharp drive propulsion and cloaking shield capability on our cart!

The mechanic can not be held responsible as he/ she does not know what the use of the cart is. I am sure some of the farms around here have bought carts from dealers where the use is intirely on private property. Carts can be modified to go really fast, like over 120 mph in a quarter mile.
PQ Golf Cart sets World Speed Record @ 118.76 mph - YouTube
According to the op this company is breaking the law. Making a cart go over 20 mph.

I find it surprising that a golf cart dealer in Sumter Counrty would agree to set the speed faster than 20 miles per hour? I seem to recall not all that long ago the Sumter County Sheriff sent a letter to all golf cart dealers in Sumter County informing them of the current laws and regulations for the speed of golf carts, verses low speed vehicles. Setting the speed in excess of 20 mph could make them liable. If one has a burning desire to know this information, do a search of this topic on this website, they would probably find the exact letter and date.

Me I don't really care. I'll just chug along at 20 mpg, with a good tail wind.

No National Speed Limit
 

There is no "national speed limit." Jimmy Carter accomplished a national 55 mph speed limit for a while to try to save gasoline, and threatened states that did not want to comply with loss of federal funds.

But, that ended, and now each state sets its own speed limits as it sees fit. Interestingly, Hawaii has the lowest at 60 mph. Then Alaska and some of the New England States have a 65 mph limit.

Most of the rest of the states East of the Mississippi River have a 70 mph limit. (Maine and Michigan are 75.)

Texas and most of the states north of it are at 75 except South Dakota. There is a stretch of Texas from San Antonio to the west to El Paso that has an 80 mph limit. Really interesting in a highway from San Antonio to Dallas where the limit is 85, the highest in the U.S.

The limit is 75 in the open spaces of Montana, Wyoming, Utah, South Dakota, Colorado and Nevada. California and Oregon are a more sedate 70. Washington state is 75.

(I realize your post was sarcastic.)

Other Charges
 

Your statement is not technically entirely correct.

Most parking lots at shopping centers and malls are private property. But, a driver cannot go as fast as he might want to if the speed he drives might amount to "reckless endangerment" of the lives and safety of others. You are correct that the charge will not be "speeding," but it is likely to be a much more serious charge relating to risking hurting or killing others.

I don't see the violation.
 

You present two false analogies. There is a specific law against selling a gun to a convicted felon, and a specific law forbidding selling booze to a 12 year old.

There is no law against increasing the speed capability of a golf cart.

I have an old Cadillac that reputedly is capable of 150 mph (although the computer brain cannot be set for that unless the appropriate tires are mounted on the car) and I still maintain a sedate 70 mph on Florida highways. If I were to have the adjustment made and drive at 150 mph and have an untoward event, the dealership would have no liability, nor would the Cadillac company.

It is not illegal for the dealership to set the computer for 150 if the appropriate tires are on the car. It is still a motor vehicle and subject to all laws regarding motor vehicles.

It is not illegal for a golf cart dealership to set a cart to exceed 20 mph. But, if the cart is capable of exceeding 20 mph it no longer meets the Florida definition of a golf cart and cannot legally be operated as a golf cart. That means no operating on the pavement within the individual villages where golf carts are permitted to operate.

Also, it does not automatically become a LSV if it is capable of exceeding 20 mph. You must pay the state a fee to convert it, and comply with other licensing and registration laws.

If you feel strongly that the local Sheriff or the State of Florida should know of the actions of Gordon's, and that they are in violation of the law, by all means make a report.

I am sorry. but I hope they know who you are or can set a timeline to know you. I know the people there and they are very kind people. The is no legal limit someone can set your cart to do,. You have a warranty and insurance. Personally I heard someone came for repairs and had their cart boosted over 25 pre repair and they warned them that they wouldn't service them again. IMHO, I think the speed limit is 19-20, and the warranty is void over 25. So, you can be set at 24 and if you choose to, then what happens will happen. Also, this is a stupid thread and disrespecting a group that helps so many.

And seriously 18 20 22? Really. We aren't talking 18 to 35

oh, and isn't the Villages full of adults?