[Dirigo]

Originally Posted by thirtyoughtsix

do you tell all golf cart operators who "fly" by you going much faster then the legal 19.6 mph that they are speeding,( I would bet that a very high percent of golf carts can and do go much faster that the legal limit) or do you call the state police when each car goes by you at 80 mph, I doubt it and while I don't condone "gram and gramps" letting their underage grandchildren drive their carts I do not believe its the responsibility of any of us to act as "law enforcement". I would venture a guess that most of the violators know that it is either illegal or a violation and are 'taking a chance" they will not be caught. I unfortunately do not know the answer (perhaps more county sheriffs patrolling our streets and multimodal paths) but I for one would never tell someone what they can or can't do unless it directly affects my safety or infringes on my property ( as in the case of a pet owner allowing their pet to use your lawn to do its business).

I once followed a drunk driver who was all over the road for 10 miles. I was talking to 911 on my cell phone the entire time. When the driver tried to turn around in her own driveway she backed into a snowbank, got stuck, and passed out. There was an infant in a car seat in the back seat.

The EMTs showed up and took the baby to Grandmas house, and the police showed up and took her to jail charged with aggrivated DUI, a felony.

The whole process took half a day out of my life (paperwork and interviews with the police), and while it didn't effect me directly, it sure as heck effected that little baby and all the other drivers she almost hit head-on in those 10 miles I followed her.

Grandma letting little Suzie drive a golf cart on a public road or trail is endangering her grandkid and everyone they meet.

I don't know how to fix it, but it "ain't" right. Perhaps the loss of golf cart privileges for 30 days, a $1,000 fine, and a required golf cart safety course would be a start?

Dirigo

[Vichyssoise]

How many have seen someone driving a golf cart with a dog in their lap? How safe can that be.

[CAL]

I would and have stopped the cart and spoken to the adult about the violation. In most cases people have been unaware of the rule surprisingly enough.

[kaydee]

Just last week there was an article regarding underage golf cart drivers and the penalties. Wish I still had the paper where I read the article so I could positivley pass along the acurate source. The article stated that the Sumter County sherrif WILL TICKET the adult of the said golf cart if a youngster is seen driving/steering the cart and that the said child will have a SUSPENDED LICENSE when he/she becomes of age to apply for a license. Yes, I read that and it struck me as quite a penalty that surely a young child would not understand so it certainly should be the responsibility of the adult to never put their loved one in that risk as well as the danger of the act.
There are many irresponsible people out there.....many grandparents who just won't say no to the grandkids. Bet those grandparents are the same people who don't follow any traffic laws weather in an auto or golf cart.

[The Great Fumar]

If we allow this to continue we could wind up with women driving race cars some day.......


fumar

[tankdvr1950]

interesting post Kaydee....however as i said in my original post....i am sure the sheriff has lots more to do than patrol TV's golf cart paths....kinda tough to do anyway from their patrol car on a public street/highway

bottom line...until there is a tragic accident or two or three...it will not be an enforcement priority

i am somewhat disappointed that there were not more posts or replys to this thread.....i guess the TOTV community does not consider it a real serious issue...too bad

[ouma1938]

Heavens to betsy, Fumar, not woman driving race cars!!! What is this world going to be coming to!

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by ouma1938

Heavens to betsy, Fumar, not woman driving race cars!!! What is this world going to be coming to!

Gracious me - next thing you know they will be on the golf course - and not just driving the beer cart!

K

[graciegirl]

I personally have never seen a young child driving a golf cart. I have seen teens driving them. I can't think how you would "stop" the cart from on foot or as you approach them or drive behind them ......... and no matter how you said it, I doubt that it would change the behavior. If they thought they were in the right, they would only be annoyed that you tried to tell them what to do. If it was someone you knew, you could try to point out the danger once they were out of the cart....but it is not an easy problem to solve. If they are dumb enough to allow this, they are probably too dumb to listen to someone lecturing them....in my very humble opinion.

[Whalen]

Originally Posted by The Great Fumar

If we allow this to continue we could wind up with women driving race cars some day.......


fumar

For shame great one, have you not heard of Sarah Fisher or Danica Patrick?
Some day I will tell you why Fumar reminds me of Paris.

[Talk Host]

This is a very serious situation, and it seem to have drifted off topic. Oh well.

[mfp509]

I wonder if we, as a group, could arrange a meeting with Law Enforcement representatives from Marion, Sumter, and Lake counties and voice our concerns sighting incidences and/or "close calls" we have seen or experienced with young children driving golf carts. At least it would be "on the record". We will find out where LE stands on this and they will know our concerns. Or could we meet with The Villages Public Safety division first? Just a thought for us concerned citizens. Nothing ventured - nothing gained.

[tucson]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

If you see a child, in this case a six year old, driving a golf cart on the street, (Today on Legacy Lane) and grandma is sitting on the passenger side, and you say nothing, and later the cart is involved in an accident and somebody is hurt or killed, do you share in the blame?

(IN this case, cars and carts were whizzing by in both directions and the kid was driving about 5 miles an hour, with her rear end on the edge of the seat so she would reach the pedals and her nose up over the steering wheel so she could see.)

Note to Grandma......"....shame on you....shame....shame.....shame."

JLK

When I saw a elderly lady driving her big 4door sedan down a golf cart path on BV Blvd a couple of years ago, I flagged down a Village Watch truck and told him to go and take care of the incident. My point is; isn't this the job of The Village Watch , aren't these (life & death issues) more important than "investigating what ppl put on their front lawns"???????????

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

This is a very serious situation, and it seem to have drifted off topic. Oh well.

TH,

After my post (as one of the major drifters) I thought this as well. This is an issue that you have raised several times in the time I have been on this forum.

mfp makes a good point. How do we do more than talk about this online? Who are the right people to approach?

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by tucson

When I saw a elderly lady driving her big 4door sedan down a golf cart path on BV Blvd a couple of years ago, I flagged down a Village Watch truck and told him to go and take care of the incident. My point is; isn't this the job of The Village Watch , aren't these (life & death issues) more important than "investigating what ppl put on their front lawns"???????????

No, this is not the job of Village Watch. They are not law enforcement officers and will be very quick to tell you that. I don't blame them for not trying to enforce the law, it's often times dangerous work and they aren't trained or commissioned.

It's up to police authority and The Villages, at least in Marion County, is just a speck on the county radar.