license confusion
 

If I read the un-named news correctly, a certain gentleman was busted for operating a golf cart without a driver's license. His had been suspended in 2006 for a dui. That would lead me to believe that anyone who has lost/ given up his or her license and continues to operate a golf cart on public streets, does so illegally. Also I am confused as to how an unlicensed operator under the legal age to obtain one, has the legal right to operate on the street. Opens up all sorts of discussion ie: the elderly parent who cannot pass the eye test, or the widow who never had the need to drive until her husband died, or the visiting 14 year old grandchild with no knowledge of rules of the road. They are all among us driving the roads, but legal or not??

I suspect the man in question was arrested because he was crossing 441, where golf carts aren't supposed to be.

When a friend of mine got a DUI here in the Villages, they suspended her license for a year. She was told she could not drive a car or golf cart.

When your license is suspended or revoked , you are prevented from operating any MOTOR VEHICLE, a golf cart is a MOTOR VEHICLE, last Jan. Fl has implemented new child restraint seat regulations, since these regulations apply to MOTOR VEHICLES, get ready to get ticketed for not having small childen properly secured in a MOTOR VEHICLE,

If you license is revoked because of medical reasons, you can't operate any MOTOR VEHICLE

The way I read the article, I agree with bluedivergirl, both of the streets the golf cart was being operated on were not for golf cart traffic. I would bet the stiffer penalities were imposed because of the driving without a license. JMHO.

If their not breaking the law, Changes are they won't get caught. The problem is most that got their license revoked cause they broke the law or don't know the rules?:popcorn: every day if I go 2 miles I see probably 20 violations. I once new drunk that crashed about every thing on wheels and included airplane. His license was removed for 10 years. He lived about 2 miles out of town, his thirst drove him to his riding lawn mower to get to the local watering hole. Back in the 60s wasn't against the law in that state till he wrecked the lawn mower going home, he got arrested for public intoxication.

If that's true, how is it that children, 14 years old, that do not have a license to drive a MOTOR VEHICLE are legally allowed to drive golf carts (MOTOR VEHICLES) in The Villages?

here's an interesting case on the subject.

Is a Modified Golf Cart a Motor Vehicle? | Glover Law

Its the law -you must be 14 years old to operate a golf cart, if you have a license it must be in good standing--wondering if you do not renew your license, can you still operate a golf cart ?

It's totally illogical, isn't it?

Right or wrong, good or bad, these are laws in the state of Florida. Age 14 and over can operate a golf cart and those convicted of DUI (and maybe other traffic offenses) cannot.

Just Curious
 

Could it be that he was in a street legal cart which does require that the operator have a license?

I thought that golf carts are not classified as motor vehicles unless they are street legal or have been modified to exceed 20 mph.

The first thing my insurance company ask for was my and my husbands drivers license numbers. They are also printed on our insurance policy.

I've heard if your under 14 and have a violation the officer will assign you a number which is registered under your name and address in your states DMV and when you go for you license it may cause you a problem. Don't know how true it is.

If you are under 14 & you are cited in Fl for operating a golf cart-IT WILL FOLLOW WHEN YOU GO FOR YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE (even out of Florida) & THE OWNER OF THE GOLF CART IS IN DEEP CRIMINAL POOP
Grand parents-golf carts are not toys for kids to play with.

golf carts are motor vehicles. However if a golf cart is modified to exceed 20 mph and not registered, then it is considered an unregistered motor vehicle. Hence driving on a multi-modal path is not a problem but when you enter a diamond lane or street you are now on a public road and can be arrested for driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

The case glover law cited is missing something. I can't ascertain with certainty if the defendant filed claim under his auto policy or golf cart policy? If the former the golf cart irrespective of modification and use would have been excluded. If claim filed under the defendants golf cart policy the court probably reasoned that since the insurance company accepted premium from the defendant then they would make certain insurance was available to the defendant. the court decision based on the golf cart policy makes no sense at all...but then courts often don't because irrespective of law a judge will make the facts fit the law and vice versa.

I'm just guessing but I suspect the lawmakers contemplated 14 yr olds operating golf carts on golf courses. Remember the rash of ATV deaths among young teens a few years back. I doubt any legislator foresaw the rec trails of The Villages and crazy drunk oldsters who crank up their carts to 40mph operating alongside grandchildren who have never driven or even seen a golf cart up close all operating them on our rec trails.