[Talk Host]

I'm curious why some people are so dead set against the police enforcing golf cart laws. I am also curious why anybody would think that enforcing such laws is "as the top of their list."

Does anybody think that everybody in this community obeys all of the laws all of the time? Police in big cities focus their attention on the offenses that disturb the peace in big cities. Police in communities like the Villages, attend to offenses that disturb the peace in communities like The Villages. Comparing The Villages policing to "big city" policing is unfair.

When would it be acceptable for police to begin enforcing speeding and safety laws on golf carts? When half of us alter them to go 30....40....45? What do you suppose would happen it there was absolutely no enforcement?

When 10% of us do? Why was 19.5 miles per hour selected as the top speed? Could it have anything to do with our safety?

There are tons of people who think that it's unfair for police to give speeding tickets for exceeding the limit in their cars. I wonder why states like Florida have a "Highway Patrol" that is dedicated specifically to enforcement of traffic laws. Could it have anything to do with our safety?

It's interesting that people scream about laws that are passed and are unenforced. Then they scream when laws are passed, then enforced.

Anytime you get two or more people together in one place, you need police.

One has to wonder why some people are so adamantly against cart safey enforcement. Every country in the world has police to enforce its laws because without them, people break the laws. Don't forget, residents are not the only ones who drive carts here. There are kids, grandkids and visitors.

None of these are from the Villages, but they are people. Just like people who live here.



http://www.break.com/index/golf-cart-back-flip.html

http://www.bofunk.com/video/5851/dru..._accident.html

[Tom Hannon]

In that above picture. Is that a golf cart or a lawn mower?

[ajbrown]

TalkHost, That is an amazing picture. Do you know the details of what caused that damage?

[Dougout]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

I hear what you're saying, but I don't find your argument persuasive. Automobile laws are written addressing their operation being on "streets, roadways, and highways". So, you're saying that if I drive my automobile on a sidewalk or a multi-modal path within The Villages, the police can't give me a citation? I disagree.

It is partly defined in Florida statute that a "golf cart" is a motor vehicle that does not exceed 20 mph. Low speed vehicles (LSV) are also partly defined in Florida statute as going faster than 20 mph. Agreed? (If you want to see the specific citations, I can lead you to them). It's further stated in Florida statute that LSV's must be registered and can only be driven by licensed drivers. Go to: http://laws.flrules.org/1999/163. If the link doesn't work cut/paste the address into your browser.

See Section 316.2122 (1) (which I cut/pasted here)

"(1) A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour."

I put the first sentence in bold, but the operative word in the sentence is "only". An LSV may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.

My read of this statute indicates I can not legally operate my LSV on a sidewalk or multi-modal path.

I'm not a lawyer, but in my work life I had to frequently reference Civil Service Law and many union contracts. Therefore, I tend to refer to laws and other legal agreements when I have confusion or question issues.

Since Bogie Shooter and others on this forum have frequently stated that the police "have no authority" on the multi-modal paths, and since I don't understand why that is so, I looked up some laws.

Please note that I'm not commenting on what is (in my opinion) a reasonable or safe speed limit in a golf cart. I'm sticking with the laws, which are binding.

I could be wrong. I readily acknowledge I'm never right 100% of the time.

I ask that Bogie Shooter and/or others show me in Florida law where it states that the police have "no authority on multi-modal paths". I'm ready to be corrected.

I Made no argument. I only explained how the law is applied and at no time did I indicate that no laws apply to golf carts on rec trails. There may be specific laws regulating golf carts on rec trails but I have no idea what they may be. An example could be the prohibition of operating while under the influence.

What I am saying is that the vast amount of vehicle laws do not apply in that they were written to apply to cars and trucks on highways. Generally speaking any public street is a highway.

Perhaps an easy way to resolve all this is for someone to call the Sumter County Sheriff Department and ask them this question. What specific laws regulate the operation of golf carts on the rec trails in The Villages?

[mulligan]

From the viewpoint of a gonnabe outsider, Wouldn't the deputies need to respond to a complaint from the owner of the cart trails/multimodal paths because they are private property??

[dillywho]

Everyone seems to be forgetting the most important thing:

Being able to operate our golf carts for getting around anywhere other than the golf courses only is a privilege and not a right which the state can rescind at any time. When that happens, then we can all: either rent carts at the courses; store your cart for a fee at one course like some country clubs around the country; purchase a trailer and haul it to whichever course to be played that day; drive your car everywhere else and/or use alternate transportation.

Check out some of the other retirement communities and you will see what I mean. Hot Springs Village in AK comes to mind...we used to own property there and that's how it was. You also had to pay to play all the courses and had to join the only country club they had to be able to play there.

We've got it great, folks. Let's not mess it up.

[iandwk]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

What if your cart is going 25 mph on a multi-modal path? Then it's not within the State's definition of a golf cart, and you shouldn't be on the multi-modal path. Result should be a ticket.

According to a Sumter County policeman at the golf cart safety seminar last week, there is no speed limit on the multi-modal paths.

[bestmickey]

Did he also tell you that the multi-modal paths are for golf carts? They can only go 20 mph or less, per State law.

Did he also specifically tell you that the multi-modal paths are for LSVs? They go more than 20 mph, per State law.

[iandwk]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Sounds to me like this police department has to much money to spend if they can buy golf carts. Also seems to me that as voters we should control that budget. Sounds to me like we have the wrong elected officials representing us as they are approving these excess budgets. Shouldn't that be the place to start? I would think as a voting group we have the ability to control how our tax money is spent. So follow the money and this issue can be resolved.

Someone correct me if I am wrong. I think I read somewhere that the VHA donated the golf carts to the police.

[red tail]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

Did he also tell you that the multi-modal paths are for golf carts? They can only go 20 mph or less, per State law.

Did he also specifically tell you that the multi-modal paths are for LSVs? They go more than 20 mph, per State law.

whats that have to do with anything. my car will go 140mph...doesnt mean i do it!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

I hear what you're saying, but I don't find your argument persuasive. Automobile laws are written addressing their operation being on "streets, roadways, and highways". So, you're saying that if I drive my automobile on a sidewalk or a multi-modal path within The Villages, the police can't give me a citation? I disagree.

It is partly defined in Florida statute that a "golf cart" is a motor vehicle that does not exceed 20 mph. Low speed vehicles (LSV) are also partly defined in Florida statute as going faster than 20 mph. Agreed? (If you want to see the specific citations, I can lead you to them). It's further stated in Florida statute that LSV's must be registered and can only be driven by licensed drivers. Go to: http://laws.flrules.org/1999/163. If the link doesn't work cut/paste the address into your browser.

See Section 316.2122 (1) (which I cut/pasted here)

"(1) A low-speed vehicle may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour."

I put the first sentence in bold, but the operative word in the sentence is "only". An LSV may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.

My read of this statute indicates I can not legally operate my LSV on a sidewalk or multi-modal path.

I'm not a lawyer, but in my work life I had to frequently reference Civil Service Law and many union contracts. Therefore, I tend to refer to laws and other legal agreements when I have confusion or question issues.

Since Bogie Shooter and others on this forum have frequently stated that the police "have no authority" on the multi-modal paths, and since I don't understand why that is so, I looked up some laws.

Please note that I'm not commenting on what is (in my opinion) a reasonable or safe speed limit in a golf cart. I'm sticking with the laws, which are binding.

I could be wrong. I readily acknowledge I'm never right 100% of the time.

I ask that Bogie Shooter and/or others show me in Florida law where it states that the police have "no authority on multi-modal paths". I'm ready to be corrected.

The officer in charge of the Sumter County Sherriff's annex on Morse Blvd. stated in an article in the Daily Sun, that they had no authority to arrest speeders on the paths. You might want to call the annex to verify the Sherriffs' position. 352-330-1383

[bestmickey]

Originally Posted by red tail

whats that have to do with anything. my car will go 140mph...doesnt mean i do it!

Right. My car will too. So can a motorcycle. But, you can't drive those on the multi-modal paths either. Neither can an LSV which needs to be registered and have a license plate on it, just like a car or a motorcycle.

[red tail]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

Right. My car will too. So can a motorcycle. But, you can't drive those on the multi-modal paths either. Neither can an LSV which needs to be registered and have a license plate on it, just like a car or a motorcycle.

i have a tomberlin and its licensed and insured and all those necessary things. and i also occasionally drive on the paths. ie......in heavy traffic areas where the cars speed along. im often passed ny golf carts so dont be so quick to say bad about lsvs!

[EdV]

Here’s my take on the situation:

1. LSV’s on paths. If street legal carts could only drive on streets, they couldn’t drive in parking lots, but neither could automobiles.

2. Driving > than 20mph on paths. They cannot nail you with the “unregistered vehicle” law because it applies only when you’re on a public roadway that allows golf carts.

3. Authority on the paths. They cannot issue citations for violations of laws written for public roadways, but that doesn’t mean they have no authority at all. I have a whacky relative who was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon when she tried to run down a cop with her car in a parking lot.

[bestmickey]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

The officer in charge of the Sumter County Sherriff's annex on Morse Blvd. stated in an article in the Daily Sun, that they had no authority to arrest speeders on the paths. You might want to call the annex to verify the Sherriffs' position. 352-330-1383

I stand corrected! I just spoke with Lt. Wolfe (?sp) and he said LSVs can drive on the paths and that there is no speed limit on the paths.

So, have at it!

(Edit, perhaps I should say that I asked those two specific questions, to get those two specific responses.)