I doubt that anyone will be prosecuted. My thought is that Duke is simply protecting themselves against lawsuits resulting from someone being injured on their property while not creating a public relations nightmare for themselves.
Golf carts are still using the path every day. I'm sure that they are aware of this and have not taken measures to stop the traffic. Otherwise, they would have put up b arriers in order to prevent people from using the path.

And well presented too.

I have learned so many things from your posts over time and I think it was you who used the term "red herring" and if I remember it right, I looked it up and it was about diverting the issue to another, or trumping up a portion of an argument.

Many have said that it is a huge issue that many cannot drive cars and closing that path would severely limit their ability to work and get to the doctor. I have great sympathy for that argument, but again refer to Billethekids constant argument that the needs of the majority are usually addressed for many good reasons. I wonder just how many would truly and honestly fit into the category of not being able to get to work or to the doctor if they explored all options. Moving? Learning to drive? Having two cars? Using a cab? Asking a friend or their church for help? Carefully managing their money?

I think it is convenient for many. There is the golf cart bridge that can take them to other doctors, other grocery stores. Of course I am talking about residents of The Villages as I type.

I think I will stop there. Haven't yet had my coffee.

I read many posts on this forum and continue to learn from the wisdom of others.

So I suppose the smart thing would be to use the path until someone gets charged with trespassing. Not the way I choose to operate. The Sleeping Giant's message is not Crystally Clear and neither are the posters on this thread. We are off the path for now awaiting further developments. Stupid would be not trying to find the answer to something that I have a question about.

Yes, I totally understand legally what would happen if they were drawn into a lawsuit. Deep pockets are always a target. I worked on their end. But here is what makes me scream. Everything was great with crossing there. Not one problem. Now it was not the greatest route but it was a route. A few years ago someone started this because they had some damage to their cart and thought Duke should pay. That woke the beast. Now here you are trespassing, you damage your cart while you are trespassing, and believe its the owners fault and should pay for your damages, Really? I thought this was settled and faded back into the wood work. I'd like to know who and why they woke the beast up? If the path is closed it will definitely be an inconvenience to a lot of people. Yep, I understand their dilemma very well. Just lucky Mr. Brown is not a corporation or there would be no path at all.

You are certainly a "Law and Order" type person and I commend you.

Steve: In a matter of speaking and offered with due respect "out of the mouth of babe's . The damaged cart claim is new information to me and information I believed was lurking in the background. I strongly suspected someone, somehow, made Duke Energy nervous.

I do have empathy for those residents both from Stonecrest and TV caught up in this fiasco but I also understand business and Duke would be wise to protect themselves

The cart claim a few years back is what started this saga. That is why the fence went up the first time. I suspect that this path will eventually close. There are some people in Stonecrest who cannot drive for various reasons. These are the people who will be inconvenienced the most. Luckily they will still have access to Walmart. You can do just about anything around the house with access to Walmart. I on the other hand was looking for an excuse to buy one of the new Elios Automobiles. Now I may have one.

I also heard about the cart owner wanting a settlement from Duke.

When the path was being improved I asked one of the workers if they had permission to make the improvements, and he stated he did.

Rollie

If they had permission to improve the path, why now the sign. Something is missing.

The Duke Energy memo which was read to me, stated the improvements were unauthorized. FWIW

Steve: IMHO if for health reasons a person's driver's license was revoked, taken away by a family member, etc it would seem to me that the cause for such action would also apply to a golf cart , especially a golf cart that could travel the streets.

Some may recall wherein a guy from Oxford took to running his golf cart on the multi-modal paths because his license was revoked due to sight issues. He ran down a pedestrian on the multi-modal path. there have been other accidents here attributed to health-related issues. I was at Aldi's this AM and noticed the constant cart traffic exiting the cart path behind the store. So apparently cart drivers in that area are not hampered?

The Viilages was specifically built for cart access accommodations. Each of us chose with an understanding of life's trade offs. I take no satisfaction in saying that or of people's potential remorse, especially at this late stage in our lives. It is simply stated as a fact. In that same vein people can choose again. It is not uncommon for residents here to buy more than once in The Villages.

I wish you the best.

Personal Best Regards:

So its the improvements that gave Duke Heart burn? What is written on the new signs exactly?

Sounds like the "permission" didn't come from Duke.

I'm having a problem following your point?

Any new updates?

Although one does not need a DL to drive a golf cart, one whose license has been revoked is not allowed to drive anything with a motor/engine.

Are many people still using this path?

Yes. Shhhhhhhh

Do you have some type of proof/link/statute saying that?

I can't help with the statue, but if you're a regular reader of the Sun like I am. At least once a month a golf cart driver, usually in the SS area, is arrested for driving a golf cart on a suspended or revoked driver's license. Usually they are in their 30's or 40's and are living with their parent or parents.

I can see it if it is a cart path on the side of a road or even in a neighborhood while driving down the street, but the statement read (or at least I took it to mean) that it would apply even on the MMP's.

That was my primary question.

The word in TV is, on MMP the police will and can ticket for DUI but not speeding. They will even give out a DUI for sitting in your cart at the square with the engine off but drinking a beer. That doesn't answer your question, but to get to and from the MMP in the historic district wouldn't the driver have to navigate on the city streets for a some distance. So going to and from from path he would be under police jurisdiction regarding suspended license laws.

Wow............not even my riding lawn mower in my yard??? Quite a reaching statement......I say BS.

Florida revoked license statue

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine

Florida definition of a motor vehicle

Statutes & Constitution
:View Statutes
:

Online Sunshine

Taken from florida legislature definitions

(77) STREET OR HIGHWAY.—

(b) The entire width between the boundary lines of any privately owned way or place used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons, or any limited access road owned or controlled by a special district, whenever, by written agreement entered into under s. 316.006(2)(b) or (3)(b), a county or municipality exercises traffic control jurisdiction over said way or place;


(26) GOLF CART.—A motor vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes.

when we made the long trip to Walmart from Fernandina last week......there were so many carts going to and from.

Everyone just past each other on the makeshift dirt road that doesn't add up to more than 2 football fields..IMHO in length, manuvering around some holes and making there way.

Are people still using this path? Anyone been arrested?

Using it as usual. An additional 12mph sign was added exactly half way through that path.

I believe the 12 MPH sign(s) have been installed by the roadway builders - not Duke.

(with all the pot holes and ruts it would be hard to go any faster)(but it is still a major improvement over what was there before the roadway builders did their thing)

.

The signs were never meant to discourage golf carts. The sign on the left is telling you to not go behind the fence into the 50 billion jiggawatt electrical contraption and the sign on the right is so if you get tempted to climb the fence to walk in the retention basin that you would not do it because both would be considered trespassing. The 12 MPH signs are yellow and bright and shiney and are there to advise everyone to not speed. A whole lot of nothing for nothing. There are several bags hung from telephone poles for trash so we may be good neighbors. Oh I almost forgot about the young fellow who cut me off, beat me back to the entrance gate to Country Club Hills and forgot his pass card and wanted to use mine....not a chance. He did use the one of a person behind us by trying to race several inches from the back of her cart....he almost made it...thankfully he didn't hit the nice lady but I'm sure he did $1000 worth of damage to his cart and mangled the gate. It clearly says one cart at a time. Boy was he heated. Free entertainment.

FYI - one needs the pass card to exit from The Villages. If someone asks you to let them in coming from Lowes path they knew they had forgot their card before exiting.

The cart paths on roads are called diamond lanes. And if you drive enough of them you will determine that some car drivers can't resist but breach the white solid lines that divide the cart lane from the right car lane. This is especially true along Rio Grande, Delmar, etc.

A man killed in a traffic accident while driving a golf cart on Morse made a left turn from the diamond lane and was in a collision with a vehicle. This guy had a heart attack. I do not recall that the papers every reported if he died because of the accident or the heart attack.

The guy who had severe sight problems and was from Oxford was traveling on a multi-modal path and hit a pedestrian. As a result of this accident I contacted Community Watch and discussed the suggestion that The Village ought to issue village ID tags at the same time they issued ID cards . They told me back then that it was being discussed. Apparently someone felt it unnecessary or its still in discussion. I still believe it is a sound idea and one that is not that expensive and has many enforcement and identification benefits.

Clearly if a person has a medical condition such that driving a vehicle creates an increased hazard, the same as such causes as speed and the greatest in mind cause for accident " driver inattention" In fact health may be a greater cause for concern.

I had the unfortunate task of taking the car keys away from my mother when she developed Alzheimer's and what lessen the guilt for me is the thought that I was saving lives and /or suffering from injuries

Posters here obsess over carts that exceed 19mph even a mile mph or so but never give mention to the issue of a driver's mental and health situation which is of greater concern especially given The Village demographics .

So again I question the position of some who claim that one of the reasons they moved to TV is because if they pull their driver's license they can still travel in their cart. Perhaps? but then perhaps not? and along those lines remember the arguments given for seat belts

All of this brings us back to the liability created by carts trespassing on Duke energy's private property

I'm aware of this but I think you have to take each situation and measure the person making the request, I did and they didn't get access. I showed up once to exit thru that gate and realized I forgot my card. Did I just exit and hope for the best on the return trip....no I went back home and got my card..lesson learned. One cart one card, no exception unless I know them or am married to her.

Exactly - how were you going to get out without the card?

:agree:

Enjoy it while you can.

Be safe, be careful.

It's private property.

:popcorn:

I think they were supporting your decision.

Since I was on the inside and don't look threatening anymore I considered momentarily asking for a favor from the next Villager, the next one who came thru didn't look like a likely candidate. I went home and did it the correct way.

Why not leave well enough alone, keep pushing the envelope and you are going to screw it up for all

When is a property owner responsible for a trespassers injuries?
 

Just back from a summer in Wisconsin. Drove the path yesterday with no problems.

Rollie