I think you nailed it. I don't like too much regulation, but some sort of tracking and identification could not hurt anything and I see possible helpful indicators.

A major part of the problem as I see it is that Community Watch has no policing power, and the Sheriffs and Police are bound by State, County and City ordinance. You would have to get some or all of these political entities to enact ordinances which then could be enforced. IMHO, there's a can of worms none of us really wants opened.

I am in favor of identifying golf carts for many reason-not only would it aid in determining which carts are doing something wrong or even illegal, but it would (as I believe Gracie brought up) also possibly help identify which grandparents are letting underage kids drive the carts. And if it is a motorized vehicle that drives on public roads, it should be governed. I think there are far more infractions than the 1% that was mentioned on here. On a daily basis, I see people breaking actual laws, and doing very, very unsafe things with the golf cart. I have seen more than 1 set of kids strapped in the cart in the place of the golf bags. One day a child will die from that. I have no problem paying towards the ID of the carts, and I also think it should be discussed for the Villages and residents to pay a fee to provide security guards-or whatever you want to call it-who do have some authority to monitor situations and manage them without having to depend on the police. I am sure that will go over like a lead balloon with some people on here, but I have also found that lots of time, the ones who protest will be the first people to need something.
Lastly, with the expansion of the Villages into areas that do not totally border the rest of the Villages-like Fruitland Park-that has all sorts of homes and trailers and communities that are between the Fruitland Villages and the rest of the Village area, there may be plenty areas where their golf carts find their way onto our golfcart paths. I can see it will be very important to be able to identify who should and should not be there. By the time we have build-out in TV, the pathways are going to be crowded enough.

JMHO.........

We have a more than adequate police force. There are no cart ID laws to enforce. The only private paths are the multi-modal paths like those along Morse and Buena Vista. The cart lanes on the other roads are on PUBLIC roads. Anybody can use them. Lets not make a mountain out of a molehill.

VT2TV has listed a number of excellent reasons why it is feasible.

Some believe that since community Watch has no policing power that it would be a waste. However, if this is true then all Community Watch does now is a waste. Is neighborhood watch a waste? Is a school crossing guard a waste? I think not. By placing some of those community watch people behind the steering wheels of carts vis a vis cars we have the same effect as neighborhood watch.

The multi-modal pathways are The Villages highways for golf carts, bicycles, pedestrians and they need to be watched so they can be managed better and infractions, dangerous situations, etc immediately reported. Again community watch is an extension of an existing program same as village ID's etc. Problems can be complex but solutions are simple if there is agreement and a willingness to listen

a feasibility study would be a good start

Putting some community watch in golf carts on the paths is an excellent idea. Sometimes just having presence is a deterrent, too.

Actually there is more of a twist to this issue. I was curious as to the ownership of the paths so I asked. Seems that the paths are owned and maintained by the CDD in which it is located. The funding comes from the CDD assesment (taxes) NOT amenity fees. So that makes them public property Just like any bike, walking etc. path in any other city. Open to ALL.

That is very interesting. So if that's the case then the Cart Gates would be illegal. This whole CDD animal is very interesting. How its funded and who benefits from the existence of the CDD.

I actually wondered about that but the CDD would have the right to end its paths anywhere they want and in a matter they chose as long as it is on there side of the "line"

To whom did you address that question? and exactly what question(s) did you pose? You said CDD taxes. If multi-modal pathways are public then taxes should have to be applied evenly throughout Sumter, Lake and Marion counties. This response seems incongruent and does not fit with villagers understanding of the nature of The Villages because it defines The Villages as a sort of hybrid which may not sit well with some residents.

I will await your reply

Personal Best Regards:

Fair question.

I contacted a VERY WELL respected official of the CDD through the district gov website. And seeing as i did not think to ask if I could repost her reply nor did she give permission I will paraphrase.

Simply I asked " who owns the multi model paths" The reply was that the cart paths on roadways are owned by the govt entity in which they are located (county roads) and The paths ARE owned by the CDD's (which are government entities). They are maintained through the assessments (taxes) each of the Districts levy on residents annually.

Hope that helps to clear things up

Well The Villages is sort of a Hybrid. Its not a Town or City, Its not a county, its has no authority to make laws, or authority to enforce them. Its a Political entity which is allowed to issue Tax Free Bonds, paid for by the residence, which the proceeds from built the transportation, sewage, and drainage infrastructure. It consist of several separate CDD Districts with board members who are supposed to be land owners of the community. Elected by the community. There are assessments which are levied on a particular CDD and then there are assessments which are levied on all CDD Districts. CDDs exist to allow developers to build while making others pay for the construction and others to get very wealthy easily with little risk to the developer. The Villages have made Gary Morse and his Family a very rich and powerful man.

Good!

Open to those that pay the assesment.

How is that homeowners association working over there in Stonecrest?