traffic cop on bailey trail cited me driving a unregistered vehicle.
 

I was driving down bailey trail going towards the gate when a traffic police officer came out of hiding and pulled me over for driving my electric cart over the allowed 20 miles an hour. Since golf carts by state law cannot exceed 20 miles an hour and when it does it is no longer a golf cart but a motor vehicle. Has anyone out there in Sumter County have or had the same issue? I need to know what happened when you had to appear in court. How much was the fine and did you have to replace your motor for a slower one? Call me at 352 750-9514 or respond to this thread with advise for me before May 1. That is the date I have to go to court in Bushnell.

It is always heart warming and reassuring when SCSO catches such a egregious transgression of the law of the land. I mean, heaven forbid they should have to to the hard work of catching actual criminals.

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

I guess the message here is slow down.

May I ask how fast he said you were going?

Many many carts exceed the speed limit. If we didn't have rules and laws, I guess we'd have anarchy. Police uphold the laws as they should. That tired, worn out gripe about don't they have better things to do and higher crimes to stop, really bugs me.

I got my very first speeding ticket in my truck just 4 months ago after I've been driving nearly 50 years. I was in the wrong, I was speeding, paid the ticket and took the driving class. End of story! :spoken:

If the cart goes faster than 20mph it is supposed to be properly outfitted and registered/licensed/insured as a "Street Legal" one. This has been discussed many times here, but people think they won't get caught.

You are entitled to your opinion .... but that is all that it is your opinion and you sure as heck do not get to decide when the story ends!

IMO .... ticketing at golf cart for going 22-23 mph and not 20 is a giant waste of time and resources. Especially considering that SCSO only has jurisdiction in the "diamond" lanes and not on the Multi Modal Paths. It is however a nice profit center.

Go fight it in court. The end of the story was my own.

You may also wish to verify with your golf cart insurance company that your coverage is active even though you have a "fast" motor.

If this the case.Sue the golf cart maker for selling golf carts that go faster then 19.9 without a speedometer.

I agree with you. This is the softest job in Florida for these police. Could tell you a story that I over-heard in a restaurant between two county cops,it was a hoot.

and that is your opinion to which you are entitled! me? i'm delighted that the sheriff's office has the resources to enforce motor vehicle laws in the villages and throughout the county! not a waste of time in my book if it increases awareness and prevents accidents! the villages has seen some doozies that might have been prevented with greater awareness and conformance with the law! and i don't want to be involved in even a minor one! hooray for enforcement!

Hold on.....my popcorn's almost ready. I already heard your story in a prior post. This guy was driving down Rainey Trail, not a multi-modal. If you exceed 19.9 mph in an unlicensed vehicle you will get ticketed. Also, you're not allowed to pass another cart because you are then on a public street and can get ticketed for unlicensed vehicle.

Barring all the comments, I'm sorry you got the ticket. I know people have said they've known of someone who got a ticket, but you're the first first-person story I've heard. I wish you luck.

You might drop by the Sheriff's Office near 466 and Morse and ask them what you need to do to make your cart legal. Maybe if you go to the judge and show that you've lowered the governor (with verification by the Sheriff) that might help.

Wow! Good to know about passing slow golf carts. Have to remind myself that I'm retired and have lots if time. Lots to learn about being a FROG.

Many Villagers share your sentiments.

How fast was the OP driving?

Good questions... I am very interested...

What I have heard previously suggests you will go to court initially and be sent to an authorized dealer to have your cart drive train checked and, if necessary, altered to prevent it from exceeding 19.9 mph. This can cost as much as hundreds of dollars. When you return to court with the dealer's report, you will have to pay a hefty fine. One local company advertises something like this: "Your choice - a $475 ticket or a $180 speedometer - NO BRAINER!!" (forgive the approximate figures cited. I do believe they are close however).

Even without knowing you personally, I am very glad you got caught going over the 20 mph limit for golf carts. You knew what the speed limit was and you chose to ignore it. You deserve the ticket and the monetary penalty that comes with it.

LNDLOCKED the message on this site usually is THERE is no crime in TV. With this in mind that leaves speeders in carts or cars to pick on. If you have a better idea let us know, or are you saying TV is loaded with crime?

I don't believe it was a case of how fast he was going. It was a case of driving a cart that was capable of exceeding 20MPH. The following definitions may be helpful. My emphasis.

20.01 Definitions, general.—As used in the Florida Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:
(1) “Motor vehicle” means:
(a) An automobile, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor and semitrailer combination, or any other vehicle operated on the roads of this state, used to transport persons or property, and propelled by power other than muscular power
(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
(42) “Low-speed vehicle” means any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including, but not limited to, neighborhood electric vehicles. Low-speed vehicles must comply with the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. s. 571.500 and s. 316.2122.3

I believe the penalty for operating an unregistered vehicle is greater than that for a speeding ticket and requires a court appearance.

I heard the fine is about 250.00. How fast were you going? I heard they will give you up to 23 MPH, then it becomes a problem.

Driving ticket
 

You will get a ticket for.... driving without a registration, driving with out a license plate, and driving without insurance, this will be a costly ticket, and maybe you might lose your driving privileges. the message here is DON'T drive over 20 MPH in a regular golf cart. There is so many golf cart exceeding the speed limits and I'm so glad they are finally cracking down.

Well said. I so agree.

Sorry for this question but not yet a Villager.

Was this on a road or a golf path within the Villages?

How fast were you going?
 

How fast did the cop say you were going, & how is it you have a cart that exceeds the pre-set limit the manufacturer sets the controller at?

Please answer......How fast were you going???

I know of carts that were stopped on Bailey Trail going 24 and the officer said if they were going 25 they would have issued a ticket. They just gave a verbal warning.

Exactly. This post is winding down but like I knew it would, it got responses from many "goody two shoes" that are alarmed to hear that someone was driving 2 mph over the speed limit. Horrible. What a danger to society. 2 mph is less than a slow walking speed. This is an active adult community. If you don't choose to participate or can't, don't complain if it moves faster than you.

Good points, mrdills.

The problem is not only driving a cart over 20MPH. It is driving a cart that is capable of speeds over 20 MPH.

If I am driving a cart in the diamond lane on Morse Blvd. at 25 MPH I am not exceeding the posted limit of 30 MPH. However, I am driving a cart that is capable of exceeding 20 MPH. Unless it is registered and insured as a LSV I am driving an unregistered motor vehicle. So, by driving 25 MPH I am sending a strong message that says "arrest me".

I am also glad they are finally cracking down. Long overdue.

BTW, please note I avoided the term "golf" cart. If it is capable of exceeding 20 MPH it is no longer defined as a golf cart. It is an unregistered vehicle.


















I am also glad they are finally cracking down.

Anybody hear of a Street Legal Golf Cart getting a ticket for speeding? I know some of them will do well over 25mph.

Exactly, If they are passing a walker or bicycle they probably going faster than 20 mph. Same "goody two shoes" complain about saving chairs at the squares. Its fun getting old?

And what did you hear in a prior post?Was it something you did not agree with?

"Goody two shoes," another worn out expression for law-abiding citizens who just want others to do the same. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Doesn't anyone have any empathy for others? That's what's wrong with our "dog eat dog" society!! And.....I want mine now, and to he** with everyone else!!

driving on Baily Trail???

Won't answer the how fast question!!!

I smell bait being tossed on the waters!!!!

Some of us support whole heartedly the effort by the police to ticket the violators. Even to do so with a special force that does only that and funded by it's efforts.

The ones that amuse me are the ones who always come back with the police should be doing something more important. Nice try!!

btk

sigh!! for all the 'goody two shoes' can we check YOUR speeds in the local neighborhoods and be assured you don't exceed 15mph in your car? a cop could sit on colony blvd all day giving cars tickets for exceeding 20mph on that road or how about 10mph within a villa area...I hardly ever see that limit obeyed and yet you would complain about 4 or 5 mph in a cart?? I thought even one amongst the omg crowd even once crowed about having their GEM modified to do 35..

I don't think it was his OPINION...I think going over 20 mph...it was THE LAW,

I totally concur. If everything that was said is true, the OP deserves to be punished to the fullest extent, from having a cart that can exceed 20 to actually exceeding 20.

I sure wish they would begin to enforce reckless driving and driving under the influence on those carts. THEY ARE NOT TOYS....and there are laws to abide to...you cannot pick and choose which ones you like or disagree with.

You.ve been driving for 50 and had to take a driving class?