Originally Posted by ajbrown (Post 326806)

I agree with most of the posts here regarding golf cart speed. I personally see no safety issue caused by a cart that goes 21-23MPH. (Yes, yes, yes I know it is no longer a golf cart). I personally did not soup up my cart so I could pass other villagers. The cart is a 02 Club Car. It topped out at 20 MPH as it should by design on flats. The issue with this cart was that if it was into the wind or up a slight grade the speed would drop to 17-18 MPH, how about 15 MPH through the mountains of Mallory. This always would bug me as I felt like I was holding up carts that can go 19-20 MPH all the time.

What I discovered is there no easy or inexpensive solution to this. I did as others who wish to resolve this do and put in a high speed motor ($400) which gets the cart up hills of Mallory at 18 MPH and it can maintain 20 on minor grades. The problem with that is it solution is now the cart goes 23-24 on flats. I have a speed ohmmeter and I keep it less that 21 when I am travelling on a road, e.g., Morse north of 466 to avoid speed traps. I also have a personal rule that I will never pass a cart going the speed limit (about 20 MPH) even if I can. Pulling me over for going 22MPH and giving me a ticket does not raise safety on the cart paths in TV one bit IMO.

With that said, I think a safety issue is how the carts that go 24-25 MPH are driven. Some drivers run up on your tail even as as you are going 20 dodging in and out looking to pass every cart they can. Have you ever witnessed a cart passing 3 to 5 carts all the way up Beuna Vista through the Palmer stretch. very scary, makes my blood boil I must admit.

If the police wish to crack down on golf cart speeding/safety, buy 4 unmarked carts that go 19.9MPH. Drive them up and down Morse and BV by Palmer pulling over everyone who passes passes them.....

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston (Post 326689)

I know some cops and they usually say that they will give leeway to a highway speed of 9 mph over (in our area that would be 74 max). But they are more strict on smaller side roads.

In TV I would give golf carts leeway up to 23 mph.

I'd like them to concentrate more on reckless actions and maybe more education on round-a-bouts. What I mean is, if they see a bad roundabout move, pull the person over and explain what they did and how dangerous it is. Give them a warning (into the system so they can look it up if they stop them again). I personally think the round-a-bout moves are more dangerous than speeding down the straight away.

Originally Posted by dpingram (Post 326694)

As a teacher, my second grade students most recent writing example had to be an explanation.

Originally Posted by downeaster (Post 326817)

It is my understanding a golf cart going 25MPH in a 25MPH zone it is not ticketed for speeding. After all, it is not exceeding the limit. It is ticketed for not being properly registered, insured or equipped. This is more serious than a speeding ticket and requires the offender to appear in court.

A golf cart capable of exceeding 20MPH is in violation at any speed. Capable is the key word and it is clearly spelled out in Florida Statutes. If such a cart is involved in an accident, regardless of speed or fault, the police and the insurance adjuster will check it throughly.

Originally Posted by cybermuda (Post 326841)

Why the rush?

Originally Posted by JUREK (Post 326838)

I agree with Russ and Ritchie. Cut them a break. They should have better things to do.:thumbup::thumbup:

Originally Posted by Talk Host (Post 326855)

How about the question. At what speed do you not cut them a break? How much over the limit?.

Originally Posted by downeaster (Post 326817)

A golf cart capable of exceeding 20MPH is in violation at any speed. Capable is the key word and it is clearly spelled out in Florida Statutes. If such a cart is involved in an accident, regardless of speed or fault, the police and the insurance adjuster will check it throughly.

.

Originally Posted by Talk Host (Post 326680)

Almost every time there is a discussion about police enforcing automobile or golf cart speed in The Villages, there is a flurry of comment that the police apparently have nothing better to do. It's posted that they are doing it to raise money for the county coffers. The comments read like a "us versus them" story.

Here's my question (questions). At what amount of speed over the limit should tickets be given? 10, 20, 30 over, or what? Or, should no tickets be given in The Villages.

If unregistered golf carts are permitted to travel a maximum of 19.5 miles per hour, at what speed should they be ticketed? 21, 33, 43 or what? Or should police mind their own business and leave all golf carts alone?

I am interested in replies from those who have complained about the police enforcing the speed laws. :popcorn: