[Talk Host]

In the golf cart seat belt thread, one of our members has suggested that it is time that a golf cart registration program be inititated. It would likely take the form of some sort of license plate and fee. Among other things, it would make the operators accountable for their actions (speeding...stop sign violations.....allowing minors to drive......altering drive trains for greater speed). I have my opinion on this, what is yours.

[redwitch]

You mean they're not accountable now? I honestly doubt registering a cart is going to make a bit of difference to those who break the rules for golf carts. Getting in an accident, getting stopped and ticketed, that will make a difference. I really don't believe much else will.

Well, I did not have to register Jess's scooter, but I did so that she could drive it on the street if she wanted. Since golf carts do get driven on city streets in some areas, are capable of going faster than allowed and the State needs the money, it seems like a good idea to me. So does having them insured. So does puttng seatbelts on them. So does driving safely and not taking corners at 20 mph. So does ......

[SteveFromNY]

I am personally not a fan of the idea of registering golf carts.

Other than another fee I'm forced to pay the state/city/county, I see nothing but a big bureaucatic mess ensuing, with little or no benefit to the community as a whole. I don't see people driving automobiles any better as a result of the registration and licensing requirements. It's hard to imagine many of the people on the road have passed any kind of licensing exam.

Perhaps an insurance requirement with a steep discount if you have seatbelts and also attend and pass some sort of golf cart driving school would proivide some benefit. It could benefit by educating folks about the rules, and at least easing the potential ignorance that's out there.

It's like a dress code - take a slob, and make him wear a suit, and you get a slob in a suit. Register a golf cart, let an idiot drive, you still have an idiot driving a golf cart.

[Peggy D]

I think I had mentioned something along those lines.

Someone had written how she was rear-ended and the driver of the golf cart took off. Luckily there was on injury or damage, but what if there had been? Remember, the driver of the cart "left the scene of the accident". There was no way to identify her, but if the cart had a tag on it....

That was my reason, only for identification in an accident.

Jan, you brought up some other good reasons.

Just a thought...Maybe if those things were tagged, people might not be so reckless since a tag number could be reported.

[l2ridehd]

Perhaps we should take a lesson from HOG. (Harley Owners Group) Every year they sponsor a beginners and an experience riders class. The cost of the class is $55 and when you complete it Harley Davidson company sends you a gift certificate for $50 at any dealership. This class provides 4 hours of classroom and 4 hours of riding. They set up in a large parking lot with pylons and instructors and teach you how to do fast stops, swerve safely, stop in a turn, avoid something thrown in front of you, and several other excellent skills. I take the experienced rider class every spring as a refresher.

The same thing could be done in the Villages with golf carts. get club car or EZ GO to help sponsor and conduct a train the trainers class and get the insurance componies to provide a discount for completing the class. Get a decal for your carts once completed. Might take a while to get it going, but would be a valuable class to have in the Villages.

[redwitch]

I keep trying to not read the editorial page and the letters to the editor in the Sun and keep not succeeding. Today, there was a letter by a couple whose golf cart had been hit by a woman driving her cart. The hit cart was parked in the Publix lot. There was a bit of damage. The woman who hit the cart immediately took off. A witness said the cart had RI plates on it. Maybe had the cart had had tags the woman might have stuck around to take responsibility for fear that someone would have written down her tag number or the witness who saw the RI plate would have been able to get the tag number.

And lv2, think you have a great idea there. It could make a difference in saving a life or two or preventing a few injuries.

[Peggy D]

Know about the HOG program (Hubby rides a Harley and is a member). It is a terrific idea, but not everyone will participate.

I find the worst drivers are the ones that THINK they won't benefit from such a thing.
They know it all!!!

It has to be something mandatory

[Peggy D]

OK Jan, we're waiting. What are your thoughts on this??

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by Peggy D

It has to be something mandatory

I feel I have enough mandatory obligations to the government already and feel strongly about not wanting another.

How many times does this kind of thing happen, where someone damages a cart and runs off? Would these actions on the part of what I'd see as a very small number justify everyone needing to register? Next step would be driver's licenses and road tests. There'd soon be a Florida State Department of Golf Carts, with an annual budget that would need to increase regularly. Then annual golf cart inspections, again with a state fee and service stations installing new, separate bays and machines, and oh yes, another fee. Maybe tolls on some of the golf cart paths too to augment the fees. Then there's the re-testing of all the aging folks because sometime there will be an accident blamed on someone who is too old to drive (even though he's registered, licensed, insured and inspected) and they hit a cart and now everyone needs annual tests and on and on and on.....

And at the end of the day, someone so "ethically challenged" that they'd run off without owning up to the damage would still do the same thing, even with tags on their cart.

Has your automobile ever been dinged good in a parking lot by another tagged vehicle? Didn't the driver leave a note saying who he was, sorry for the damage, and offering to pay?

The tags won't be anything more than more un-needed government, and wouldn't help at all.

This should all be worked out with the insurance companies. Collision insurance for situations where you get hit and reduced premiums if you attend golf cart defensive driving school. That will work.

Did I mention NOT by putting more government in place?

[SteveZ]

Well, it never seems to fail. What starts out as a neighborly world eventually gets to where bureaucracy and government-needs-to-hold-you-responsible takes over.

While I don't like the idea of "annual, renewable" registration plates, I can understand the frustration of dealing with the hit-and-run situation. The awkward part would be determining who issues the registration (whether one-time permanent decal or renewable tags), under what authority, how much, what's the enforcement strategy, et cetera.

This may be an inevitablility if TV continues to grow into the 100,000 population. Since three counties are involved, the legal structure to make it happen (short of a state mandate) would involve a fair amount of negotiation to cover administration, enforcement and set-up costs. This could get V E R Y interesting....

[zcaveman]

After the administrative fees for the registration of golf carts get sucked up by the bureaucracy, I would like to see the rest of the revenue earmarked 100% for the improvement and maintenace of all of the cart paths (oops Multiuse cart paths). Hmmm. Maybe we should have the bicycles licensed so we can get revenue from them also. They run stop signs and run into things and cause damage.

[redwitch]

I've had my car hit in a parking lot. The guy started to leave a note but then removed it and left. Fortunately, a bus driver saw the accident and left me a note with the man's license plate number on it. The driver had a fun time explaining to the police why (1) he hit the parked car, (2) why he removed his note. Obviously, had he not had a plate, I would have had to eat the deductible on my car. Golf cart tags would take care of this issue.

[SteveFromNY]

I've had mine hit numerous times and never had the luck to see or hear who did it.
Personally I'd prefer to deal with the issue than register something else with the government.

[The Shadow]

Oh, ya, good idea.

[Muncle]

Let's see. We're going to take a legal golf cart and mandate registration ;D ~~ not a street cart that exceeds 19 mph but one of those beige two-seaters they rent you that barely makes it up the hill. Since TV has not law enforcement authority and we sit in 3 counties and 1 or 2 municipalities, you're looking at a state law. We'll ignore having the law then apply statewide to the hundreds of thousands of carts in Florida. But now we want to make seat belt mandatory. Nice add-on, but mandatory on all carts? :dontknow: How many accidents have we seen where the cart has rolled? Quite a few, I'd think. Obviously, mandatory roll bars are needed. Probably ought to have helmets, too. Luckily, the gas carts have no problem with CAFE standards, but the EPA might still be an issue. Better add some emissions controls. Steve & others have discussed the bureaucracy, so we can skip the Department of Golf Carts Department and all it entails. However, if we do get toll golf paths, I'm getting a Sun Pass so I can avoid the booths and not have to carry all that cash all the time.