[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by TVMayor

A while back a gas golf cart caught my attention because of the exhaust sound. Minutes later that golf cart and I were at the postal station. Being a hot rod lover I went and talked to the driver of that golf cart. He told me he swapped out the original engine for a larger more horsepower engine. With that it would go 35mph put the brakes were not up to the task, so he installed disc breaks. I asked what the open ended metal box at the upper left corner of the windshield was for and he said it was for his radar detector.

Well, if you are going to intentionally violate the law, might as well do it right

[MikeV]

If you are caught going over 20mph on a public street in a golf cart you will not get a speeding ticket. You will get an unregistered vehicle ticket. When you go to court you have to bring proof the cart has been set back to 20mph. The cost can be up to $500 and make sure you do not wear shorts to court or you will either be asked to come back or put at the end of the docket.

[village dreamer]

maybe the police need to give out tickets on the cart paths ??????

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

That doesn't make sense to me. Unless a LEO catches you going over 20, how is it enforceable? Knock, Knock on your door at 2 AM---we're here to test drive your cart?

A few years ago I was driving my cart back from Glenview along Oak Forest and a deputy was on a side street with radar/laser and caught me at 24 mph. Fortunately, I had just had my electric cart motor replaced under warranty and showed him the repair slip. I got a warning to have the cart adjusted to 20 mph. So, they are out there and, as noted above, it's a hassle if they find your cart can exceed 20.

[villagetinker]

I had my car out with a GPS that reads to the tenth of a mile per hour. I was doing 30.4 MPH on Pinellas Place, when I was passed by a golf cart in the GC lane, had to be doing 32 or 33 MPH. I see carts passing carts a few times per week from my house, and the ones being passed look like they are easily doing more then 15 - 20 mph.

While I am concerned about this behavior, one of our fellow villagers in another thread pointed out that everyone has a different level of risk that they are comfortable with. So as long as they do not directly interfere with my quality of life, I am not going to worry about it. The only concern I have is when they push the limit of whatever they are doing too far, and I get to call 911.

The other thing I have noticed is that there appears to be a lack of enforcement in this state. I have actually witnessed a car go through a red light, while a police office (Wildwood) was sitting at the light, and nothing was done! Similar occurrences with speeding, where a car was going significantly faster them mine, and I was at or just above the speed limit going past the apparent radar trap, no enforcement.....
JMHO

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

That doesn't make sense to me. Unless a LEO catches you going over 20, how is it enforceable? Knock, Knock on your door at 2 AM---we're here to test drive your cart?

Just get in an accident, even one where you were going 10mph. The cops arrive and your cart is checked to see if it has been altered to exceed 20mph. Get out your wallet if it does. And then pay for any damages from the accident. If you have cart insurance, they will not likely pay if you are driving an illegal cart.

[Nucky]

If you drive a golf cart over 20mph I feel sorry for you. I don't care if your Mr. Good Wrench, you could stand on your head and spit Chicklet's...it's not criminal...it's also not safe. I'm a little upset with speeding because it has cost me so many people in my life and for what? It's senseless. I definitely understand that people have a speed shutoff in their brain or they don't, all three of our boy's who are now grown men have the switch but it doesn't work, they drive like it's a video game. Now they have children, our grandchildren in the car with them and they still drive like pinheads. Three good kids who show good decision making skills except for this area. I've tried to tell them it's disrespectful to drive so fast but they decline my advise....I don't repeat myself or I'll end up being a nudge. So what chance is there that someone of retirement age will change the habits of a lifetime....not much. Just don't hit me or mine when your speeding in your cart driving like a fool to get to the pool. I rest my case!

[l2ridehd]

I have a speedometer on my cart. I have checked it against my GPS and car and it's very close to being accurate. I can't find any variance to actual. It registers 19 to 20 most of time. Occasionally when alone, no golf clubs, slight downhill, it will go 21. Or at least show 21. But it won't sustain it very long.

I have had carts pass me, but very few. And when they do it's a slow process. So maybe there are carts out there that will go 22, even 23 or 24. But 30? I personally have never seen it and I have serious doubts it's possible.

However I have passed many carts going 15 to 16. Even had a couple yell at me for passing and yet they were going around 14 or 15 mph. So please before you go looking for LEO to police us more, make sure your cart speed is actually doing 20 mph.

[TomOB]

Police do give out tickets for speeding carts, but I believe only on roads, not multi-modal trails. I know a few people that have been cited. It is an expensive ticket. It is also bad for you drive train and brakes.

[alma283]

My first cart was street legal and has to be able to go 35-40. Only time I drove that fast if I was on the street otherwise 20 was my limit. However I had golf carts pass me all the time.

[Goober III]

While driving my car on El Camino, I slowed to pace a golf cart running on the parallel cart path. She was doing 30 mph!

[2BNTV]

I can honestly say that many times I have been passed on the golf cart paths. My cart can 19.5 MPH and it seems to have a governor on it when going downhill, holding my speed to under 20 MPH.

Several times people have passed me, like I was standing still.

I for one like the serenity of an electric cart and leave my home with enough time to get where I need to go on time, but that's me...........

My understanding is that getting caught speeding is very expensive, as you receive a fine and be made to modify the cart to do 20 MPH.

Personally, I'd rather have peace of mind.

BTW - I agree we will never modify anyone's behavior as the people that speed will continue to do so until caught, or even worse, wind up in an accident. It's sad when someone gets killed in a golf cart accident after they have lived this long.

[John_W]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

maybe the police need to give out tickets on the cart paths ??????

The MMP (Multi-modal-paths) are on private property in TV. I've been under the impression that the police will only ticket carts on the MMP if you have open containers of alcohol, but no speeding tickets since it's private. The speeding enforcement by police is normally conducted on public streets that have a cart path lane, such as St. Charles, Pinellas, Hillsborough, etc.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by CathyandJohn

We get passed quite often and it bothers us, as we are going what is to be allowed.

There will always be carts that pass you in The Villages and cars that pass you on I-75. Please don't let it bother you.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by biker1

You will find a lot of carts cruising around at 20-22 mph. While I would guess that there are some that are capable of doing 40 mph, I believe that is far from typical. I have never been passed when doing 20 mph but I have passed carts doing what I would guess was 15 mph and less. The fastest cart I personally know of is a friend's cart that can do 27 mph. That is a somewhat scary speed.

Our cart will do 19.9 and we have been passed at that speed several times by non street legal carts. No, it doesn't happen every day but it does happen.