[paulajr]

I have been arguing with people since moving here…telling them that it IS ILLEGAL to put expired plates from another state on golf carts! I’m glad to finally be vindicated!!
And I would add..it is also ILLEGAL to ride (In car OR cart..) with HEADPHONES on!!!

Originally Posted by Mike&Silvia

My wife and I are new residents in TV and recently bought a golf cart. Last week, while my wife was driving the cart along Marsh Bend Trail, a Wildwood police officer pulled up alongside of her and made her stop. He informed her that the expired Illinois vanity plate on the rear of the vehicle was illegal and that she was traveling at 30 mph, which is in excess of the golf cart speed limit. When she mentioned that the cart was set to not exceed 23 mph, the officer suggested that maybe she was "going downhill" (on Marsh Bend Trail?). My wife did not argue further and that was the end of the conversation.

My wife's experience has me curious to understand the laws and rules pertaining to golf carts in TV. I have read sometimes conflicting legal information regarding the registration and need for insuring carts, such as:

"Golf carts that ride on public streets and are capable of traveling more than 20 mph and carry registration are considered LSVs, which means you must have insurance on them."

"In Florida, all golf carts operated on public roads require registration with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. All valid registrations must include a vehicle identification number. Golf carts must always display an up-to-date registration decal."

Other questions that I have include:

* I see license plates adorning golf carts all over TV, are they illegal?
* Do the golf cart lanes that adjoin roadways in TV qualify as "public roads" in the quote
above?
* When insuring a golf cart, what is the recommended coverage and what should I expect
to pay?

[paulajr]

It is ILLEGAL to put plates on ..”decorative “ or not!

[Vermilion Villager]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

Yes, as if she drove her golf cart down from Wisconsin.

I don’t know any traditional looking golf cart that goes anywhere near 30 MPH

Exactly!!
Most of the modern golf carts operate at 24mph.....mine does.
I seriously doubt any police officer is going to write a ticket for 4mph over the limit, because if brought to court it brings into question the accuaracy of their equipment. Think about it… The same judge that hears cases of rape, murder, child exploitation, sexual assault… Etc is now going to sit there and listen to a police officer make a case that Becky Sue's golf cart was causing chaos and anarchy on the road at 4 miles an hour over the limit?!?!?!? NO...

[mikeycereal]

I'd stick to 22-23 mph max. I know others jack their gov to 25-26 but I don't need to go that fast. At 22-23 I doubt anyone would attract police attention, plus I'm on the path or in a parking lot 99% of the time. If it's jacked a bit higher than normal and you're going under 20 or stopped and someone hits you I doubt insurance would deny you no matter what anyone may say. So I just play it safe.

[suepartelo]

We got stopped on Morse Blvd at 27 mph, then the police officer asked for our registration, we have had the cart for 13 years and never had it registered, it is not even a street legal cart! We had a Rhode Island plate with the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics on it that we bought in the square on Market night! Well, he issued a summons and now my husband who is 79 years old has to go to court for driving an unregistered vehicle! He had a clean driving record until this, I am at my wits end, do not know what they are going to do to him in court, we were told if he didn't show up there would be a warrant issued for his arrest! it is listed as a criminal offense on the summons! Welcome to the Villages, Florida's Friendliest Home Town!"

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by suepartelo

We got stopped on Morse Blvd at 27 mph, then the police officer asked for our registration, we have had the cart for 13 years and never had it registered, it is not even a street legal cart! We had a Rhode Island plate with the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics on it that we bought in the square on Market night! Well, he issued a summons and now my husband who is 79 years old has to go to court for driving an unregistered vehicle! He had a clean driving record until this, I am at my wits end, do not know what they are going to do to him in court, we were told if he didn't show up there would be a warrant issued for his arrest! it is listed as a criminal offense on the summons! Welcome to the Villages, Florida's Friendliest Home Town!"

Has nothing to do with The Villages. It has to do with the laws of the state, county, and city. The police are county police. The Villages doesn't have a police force of its own. It's great you were able to get away with breaking the law for thirteen years. You got caught. There's no "wits end" to deal with. If your golf cart is set up to be street legal, then get it registered and insured, then go to court and pay your fine. If it's not set up to be street legal, then have a professional set the governor so it can't go faster than 20, and then go to court and pay your fine.

[TomSpasm]

Your wife was fortunate, to say the least. I got nabbed years ago on Bailey Trail going downhill, clocked by the officer at 25mph. The ticket is not for speeding, it's for "driving an unregistered vehicle". $500 plus dollars later, I had experienced a demoralizing MANDATORY court appearance, where I was one of at least 15 people in the courtroom dealing with the same exact issue, and owned a golf cart that would no longer go over 20, even downhill.

[TomSpasm]

Sorry, quoted the wrong post here.

[TomSpasm]

Originally Posted by suepartelo View Post
We got stopped on Morse Blvd at 27 mph, then the police officer asked for our registration, we have had the cart for 13 years and never had it registered, it is not even a street legal cart! We had a Rhode Island plate with the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics on it that we bought in the square on Market night! Well, he issued a summons and now my husband who is 79 years old has to go to court for driving an unregistered vehicle! He had a clean driving record until this, I am at my wits end, do not know what they are going to do to him in court, we were told if he didn't show up there would be a warrant issued for his arrest! it is listed as a criminal offense on the summons! Welcome to the Villages, Florida's Friendliest Home Town!"

Show up in court with a document from a golf cart repair shop saying they have restored the cart to legal status. Things will go smoother from there.

[UpNorth]

No reason to pass me when I'm going 20mph in my legal cart. Yet, it happens every day. I have no pity for those who get caught passing me.

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by UpNorth

No reason to pass me when I'm going 20mph in my legal cart. Yet, it happens every day. I have no pity for those who get caught passing me.

I agree. Our Yamaha won't go over 22 mph and I'm fine with it. This coming from a lifelong adrenaline junkie, that still rides motocross, mountain bikes and I have a Polaris side by side that does 70mph plus. So I love to go fast.

But when we're at our home in TV, I enjoy the relaxing cart rides, fresh air and the beautiful scenery. No need to go any faster. I can get that fix in other ways.

The mmp isn't the place for daredevils.

[Garywt]

This is interesting. If you bought the cart from a dealer I am surprised the speed is not set to 20 mph since that is the law. When we bought our cart we were told that increasing the speed would void our warranty. I didn’t touch anything until our warranty was up but since the cart really only went 18 mph I did adjust it to go 20/21. If old license plates are illegal then 75% of the Villagers are breaking the law. I know insurance is optional we insured our carts as soon as we got them so we were protected. I would not want a street legal cart but as long as you stay on the paths or inside the painted lines along certain roads you are fine. I would double check the speed though as driving 30 mph can be dangerous.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by suepartelo

We got stopped on Morse Blvd at 27 mph, then the police officer asked for our registration, we have had the cart for 13 years and never had it registered, it is not even a street legal cart! We had a Rhode Island plate with the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics on it that we bought in the square on Market night! Well, he issued a summons and now my husband who is 79 years old has to go to court for driving an unregistered vehicle! He had a clean driving record until this, I am at my wits end, do not know what they are going to do to him in court, we were told if he didn't show up there would be a warrant issued for his arrest! it is listed as a criminal offense on the summons! Welcome to the Villages, Florida's Friendliest Home Town!"

That last statement says a lot about you. Rather than take responsibility for your actions, just claim that you are being picked on.

[JGibson]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

That last statement says a lot about you. Rather than take responsibility for your actions, just claim that you are being picked on.

Your responding to someone who has a 1 post history.

[JGibson]

Originally Posted by Garywt

This is interesting. If you bought the cart from a dealer I am surprised the speed is not set to 20 mph since that is the law. When we bought our cart we were told that increasing the speed would void our warranty. I didn’t touch anything until our warranty was up but since the cart really only went 18 mph I did adjust it to go 20/21. If old license plates are illegal then 75% of the Villagers are breaking the law. I know insurance is optional we insured our carts as soon as we got them so we were protected. I would not want a street legal cart but as long as you stay on the paths or inside the painted lines along certain roads you are fine. I would double check the speed though as driving 30 mph can be dangerous.

My salesman jacked it up a little for me right on the showroom floor.

It's not so I can speed it's so I can pass someone quickly and safely who is doing 13 mph.