[natickdan]

Originally Posted by John_W

Highway speed limits are 55 and interstates are 65 - 70 yet most cars can operate up to speeds of 120 - 150, well above the max speed limits. It doesn't make practical sense that golf carts that are capable of doing 25 are governed back to a speed of 19 mph, which just so happens to be the speed limit. Removing the operators's capability to have a reserve speed available is limiting the driver's capability to maneuver in and out of situations. Besides, who determined that 19 was safe and not 25?

I use 25 mph and not a higher speed because most Yamaha gas carts can go 25 after about 1 minute of tinkering with the engine, and 25 on a straight stretch of road is not a problem to handle unless you're someone who shouldn't be driving to begin with.

Come on, John_W. Yes, I would like to have my golf cart do 25 MPH and, what the hell, maybe 35 MPH and even blow through those pain in the neck stop signs that are really meant for cars. In all seriousness, you may only be "asking", but these are the laws...yes, laws, that apply to all of us...Enjoy going 25 MPH, but don't expect me to pull over to let you pass me when I'm cruising along at 19.5 MPH.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by buggyone

Just make sure your golf cart is not geared to go over 20 mph. I used my GPS to check mine and it is a steady 19 mph.

I was on Talley Ridge this morning doing my 19 mph and another golf cart passed me and was quickly out of sight. He had to be doing 35 mph. Well, it does not bother me at all to be passed by a speeding golf cart but it would give me a huge laugh if he were nabbed by a police officer and I got to see it.

Correct, buggyone. Following is copied from Florida Statutes:

 “Golf cart” means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.

[John_W]

Originally Posted by natickdan

Come on, John_W. Yes, I would like to have my golf cart do 25 MPH and, what the hell, maybe 35 MPH and even blow through those pain in the neck stop signs that are really meant for cars...

Again, someone exaggerating my statement, I only said 25 mph would be sufficient, not 35. It's no different then when speed limits on interstates were 55, Sammy Hagar even wrote a song about it and now that is a faint memory. I believe that most of us that's been driving for a lifetime can certainly manage a golf cart at 25mph. I've been driving since 1966 without ever having an accident and my last ticket, yes it was for speeding, was in 1988.

Too many of these type laws have a such fine line. On the the cart paths you're not prohibited from going 25 because it's private property even though it's a few feet away. The same with an open beer while sitting in your parked cart and sitting next to your cart with the same open beer. Common sense is what is needed, not someone else's arbitrary definition.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by John_W

Highway speed limits are 55 and interstates are 65 - 70 yet most cars can operate up to speeds of 120 - 150, well above the max speed limits. It doesn't make practical sense that golf carts that are capable of doing 25 are governed back to a speed of 19 mph, which just so happens to be the speed limit. Removing the operators's capability to have a reserve speed available is limiting the driver's capability to maneuver in and out of situations. Besides, who determined that 19 was safe and not 25?

I use 25 mph and not a higher speed because most Yamaha gas carts can go 25 after about 1 minute of tinkering with the engine, and 25 on a straight stretch of road is not a problem to handle unless you're someone who shouldn't be driving to begin with.

AMEN brother.

[CarGuys]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I thought I'd be able to unload it on my iPad, no such luck.

Try App SpeedoMeter

Herv

[thistrucksforyou]

Originally Posted by gmcneill

tax dollars spent on deputies and equipment to check golf cart speeds is a bad thing?

Speeders put my wife's life/health safety at risk.
Speeders put my life/health safety at risk.
Speeders put my property at risk.

Speeders are law breakers. They do not have the right to put others' life/health safety and property at risk. Period.

Deputies who write tickets for speeding are protecting life and property; they are not thinking "revenue stream".

But hey! If generating revenue is the real reason why deputies are ticketing speeders, then let's band together to retaliate. Let's do something that'll really hit them hard. Let's obey the speed limit! That'll teach those big bullies for enforcing the law! No money for you!

retired cop maybe ?

[RayinPenn]

Originally Posted by John_W

Highway speed limits are 55 and interstates are 65 - 70 yet most cars can operate up to speeds of 120 - 150, well above the max speed limits. It doesn't make practical sense that golf carts that are capable of doing 25 are governed back to a speed of 19 mph, which just so happens to be the speed limit. Removing the operators's capability to have a reserve speed available is limiting the driver's capability to maneuver in and out of situations. Besides, who determined that 19 was safe and not 25?

I use 25 mph and not a higher speed because most Yamaha gas carts can go 25 after about 1 minute of tinkering with the engine, and 25 on a straight stretch of road is not a problem to handle unless you're someone who shouldn't be driving to begin with.

Sorry friend are you kidding? Respectfully you are being pretty darn selfish. You think you can zip along and be perfectly safe but you are not lone on the road. Hopefully you don't crack up and hurt someone who is obeying the law.
Think about how you will feel if you have an accident while speeding.. I know you are perfect and it's no problem right? Wrong!. I suggest you talk to a highway poiceman he/she will set you straight.

[villages07]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I thought I'd be able to unload it on my iPad, no such luck.

Bare .... a speedometer app would have to have active internet service to access GPS satellites and determine your speed/distance.

I believe your ipad is 3G (internet anywhere) capable, but, last I recall you did not have an active data plan.

So, for you, a speedo app would only work at home.... see how fast you can walk from the fridge to the lanai :-)

[John_W]

Originally Posted by RayinPenn

Sorry friend are you kidding? Respectfully you are being pretty darn selfish. You think you can zip along and be perfectly safe but you are not lone on the road. Hopefully you don't crack up and hurt someone who is obeying the law.
Think about how you will feel if you have an accident while speeding.. I know you are perfect and it's no problem right? Wrong!. I suggest you talk to a highway poiceman he/she will set you straight.

You would have a valid point if we were all beginner drivers and I was going through driver's ed. However I don't take corners at 25 mph, not even at 19 mph. Top speeds are for long straight stretches of roadway. Accidents happen mostly when turns are involved. If someone has been driving 45 years without an accident, then I would consider the fact they could handle a golf cart at 25 mph and would have enough logic to know to slow down for turns and encounters with other vehicles.

Why would I feel bad for having an accident at 25 but not at 19 mph? Because 25 is considered speeding, how about 20, is that considered speeding, or 22? I would be upset at any speed, even 10 mph. When driving your car on I-75 do you still drive 55? Remember that was the speed limit until it was changed to 70.

[papabigdan]

Maybe they were looking for illegal donuts.

[kirk1]

I feel how a person drives is more important than how fast they drive. Being reckless can happen at any speed even at 19mph or less. The golf cart accident at Maderra and Morris had nothing to with speed but everything to do with inattention. I see nothing wrong with being passed in my golf cart, as long as it is done safely. I also feel that exceeding the 19.9mph does not make a reckless driver. After all the ticket is for a registration violation not reckless driving.

[EdV]

Originally Posted by John_W

... I only said 25 mph would be sufficient, not 35....

Instead of expecting the laws to conform to your needs, why not conform and adapt to the laws.

If you want to be able to travel TV legally at up to 25mph you can. Just upgrade your cart with LSV saftey equipment and register and insure it for $450/yr. After all, it’s only money. You will have the added benefit of additional safety equipment designed for operation at that speed.

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by John_W

You would have a valid point if we were all beginner drivers and I was going through driver's ed. However I don't take corners at 25 mph, not even at 19 mph. Top speeds are for long straight stretches of roadway. Accidents happen mostly when turns are involved. If someone has been driving 45 years without an accident, then I would consider the fact they could handle a golf cart at 25 mph and would have enough logic to know to slow down for turns and encounters with other vehicles.

Why would I feel bad for having an accident at 25 but not at 19 mph? Because 25 is considered speeding, how about 20, is that considered speeding, or 22? I would be upset at any speed, even 10 mph. When driving your car on I-75 do you still drive 55? Remember that was the speed limit until it was changed to 70.

I hear what your saying JW and tend to agree but you're not going to change anybody's mind on this board so I wouldn't try.

Like with a car, a little extra power would help maneuver around slower carts, joggers and bicycles quicker therefore making it safer to pass.

[EdV]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

No Ed!! It's the street legal carts. All the others are in cart path..... But like I said, to each his or her own!!

Larry, you are certainly entitled to your own opinions but that shouldn’t give you license to mislead others in this forum who may not have been here yet.

So I’ll say it again. You cannot go anywhere in TV without having to share the road with golf carts (regular and street legal) most of the time. In fact, the total amount of separate multimodal paths is a small fraction of the shared roadways in TV.

So if there are any wannabees out there that share Larry’s trepidation of carts in the road, you may want to look elsewhere.

[PPreu]

As a retired police Lieutenant, I bristle at some of the comments I read here. Let me state the facts: DUI, Reckless Driving and the various forms of vehicular homicide are CRIMES, not ticketable offenses. An operator may be charged for a DUI "anywhere within this state", and that includes golf cart paths, shopping centers and even your own driveway. "Anywhere" means anywhere.

A source of revenue? Really? In my home state (and I know it varies from state to state), $5.00 of every pay-by-mail ticket goes to the municipality while the rest goes in to the state's General Fund. Some localities have their own printed up tickets, but in the case of the SCSO or MCSO or LCSO, these are state issued tickets, so the town of Lady Lake receives NO "revenue".

When you see a "police presence", its always as the result of an order from a superior officer which, in turn, is the result of complaints made by residents. Historically, its been my experience, that resident complaints usually result in tickets issued to residents.

Lastly, when I sent an officer(s) to an area as the result of complaints of speeders, I expected results.

Ok, Ive vented, its off to the golf course where I find peace in the valley.