[Talk Host]

I have often wondered about the reality of law enforcement authority on cart/multi modal paths. If those paths were constructed by The Villages, they are private property, aren't they? It would seem that law enforcement has no authority. But then, we don't know the real true answer to this.

I do know that some people have received tickets and that seems real. However, when I was a deputy sheriff, I gave a ticket to a kid that was in a high speed race and accident on a newly constructed portion of highway that was not yet open. He took it to court and the court ruled that the highway had not yet opened to the public and that it was private property and that I had no authority.

[chacam]

More information here:

http://www.districtgov.org/vccdd/you...min_090109.pdf
page 3 (statements by Valerie Fuchs, District counsel)

And here:

http://www.districtgov.org/vccdd/you...min_081212.pdf
page 2 (statements by Lt Wolfe, SCSO)

[Talk Host]

I read the minutes, here is the most important point, made by district counsel Valerie Fuchs:

Ms. Fuchs advised, the SCSO (Sumter County Sheriff's Office) has no jurisdiction to enforce violations on the multi-modal paths that exist on District property.

So, who will enforce violations????? Nobody??????

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I read the minutes, here is the most important point, made by district counsel Valerie Fuchs:

Ms. Fuchs advised, the SCSO (Sumter County Sheriff's Office) has no jurisdiction to enforce violations on the multi-modal paths that exist on District property.

So, who will enforce violations????? Nobody??????

There were three exceptions listed for citations. Driving under the influence, reckless driving, and failure to obey traffic signage at intersections were these exceptions.

This is only for Sumter County though. What the cops in Marion and Lake Counties can do within TV probably depends on their policies regarding law enforcement in TV.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac

There were three exceptions listed for citations. Driving under the influence, reckless driving, and failure to obey traffic signage at intersections were these exceptions.

This is only for Sumter County though. What the cops in Marion and Lake Counties can do within TV probably depends on their policies regarding law enforcement in TV.

If they don't have the authority to enforce speed violations, why would they suddenly have authority to enforce other violations. It doesn't make sense legally, I don't think.

JLK

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I have often wondered about the reality of law enforcement authority on cart/multi modal paths. If those paths were constructed by The Villages, they are private property, aren't they? It would seem that law enforcement has no authority. But then, we don't know the real true answer to this.

I do know that some people have received tickets and that seems real. However, when I was a deputy sheriff, I gave a ticket to a kid that was in a high speed race and accident on a newly constructed portion of highway that was not yet open. He took it to court and the court ruled that the highway had not yet opened to the public and that it was private property and that I had no authority.

Well, I may get kicked off this site for this response, but I think this discussion has just granted permission to anyone to drive any speed or any way they so choose on the paths. Thank you. That just leaves the door wide open for more people to get either seriously hurt or killled on our paths. I do not see the need to go flying down those paths. If one has a need for speed, then how about setting up designated areas for cart races or something so that the rest of us can travel the cart (excuse me, multimodal) paths without fear for our lives. Do those having the souped up carts or those legally allowed to go more than 20 mph have a burning need to show off? The ability to get around by golf cart here is a privilege that can be rescinded by the state if they so choose. It is not a right! I, for one, do not want to have to trailer my cart in order to get to the courses to play or to get my cart to the multimodal paths. I could cite more, but I think you get the picture. I'm just sorry that they cannot write tickets on the paths and if it ever comes to a vote to extend or somehow set up enforcement of speed on those paths, you can bet I will be first in line.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by dillywho

Well, I may get kicked off this site for this response, but I think this discussion has just granted permission to anyone to drive any speed or any way they so choose on the paths. Thank you. That just leaves the door wide open for more people to get either seriously hurt or killled on our paths. I do not see the need to go flying down those paths. If one has a need for speed, then how about setting up designated areas for cart races or something so that the rest of us can travel the cart (excuse me, multimodal) paths without fear for our lives. Do those having the souped up carts or those legally allowed to go more than 20 mph have a burning need to show off? The ability to get around by golf cart here is a privilege that can be rescinded by the state if they so choose. It is not a right! I, for one, do not want to have to trailer my cart in order to get to the courses to play or to get my cart to the multimodal paths. I could cite more, but I think you get the picture. I'm just sorry that they cannot write tickets on the paths and if it ever comes to a vote to extend or somehow set up enforcement of speed on those paths, you can bet I will be first in line.

You are not going to get kicked off this site for voicing your opinion. And, I don't think that an open and honest discussion of this topic is "leaving the door open" for anybody to do anything stupid. The stupid people are already doing stupid things. This discussion is not going to take an otherwise responsible individual and turn him into a daredevil. Hiding the facts isn't the solution to solving a problem. Discussing it publicly will help arrive at a solution.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

.... The stupid people are already doing stupid things. ....

TH, you really hit that nail on the head!!!

[duffertom]

Can't the Districts request that the Sheriffis dept. enforce rules on the paths. It is a public safety issue with walkers and bikes mixing with carts.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by duffertom

Can't the Districts request that the Sheriffis dept. enforce rules on the paths. It is a public safety issue with walkers and bikes mixing with carts.

The district has no "law making" authority. Therefore they do not have the authority to make laws or issue authority to a law enforcement agency. Law enforcement can only enforce laws that have been established by a bona fide law making entity.

Originally Posted by Talk Host

If they don't have the authority to enforce speed violations, why would they suddenly have authority to enforce other violations. It doesn't make sense legally, I don't think.

JLK

As all kinds of crimes can occur on the Villages' golf courses and the cops can come onto the golf courses to combat these crimes. Burglaries from golf carts for instance as well as thefts of golf carts.

An accident of a serious nature would bring the cops and the emergency vehicles onto the golf courses.

Developers of the Villages would be very hard pressed selling the Villages' if the cops were not allowed to come onto their private property to combat all kinds of crimes.

Access for the public also plays into just how private this property really is. The Villages golf courses are more of a semi-private nature with all the people who show up on them regularly.

I am surprised that the Sumter County Sheriff's Office has not pressed more into enforcing various FL state laws and local ordinances with respect to speeding and the like. Seems this is more of a political solution involving the developers' clout than a legal one.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac

As all kinds of crimes can occur on the Villages' golf courses and the cops can come onto the golf courses to combat these crimes. Burglaries from golf carts for instance as well as thefts of golf carts.

An accident of a serious nature would bring the cops and the emergency vehicles onto the golf courses.

Developers of the Villages would be very hard pressed selling the Villages' if the cops were not allowed to come onto their private property to combat all kinds of crimes.

Access for the public also plays into just how private this property really is. The Villages golf courses are more of a semi-private nature with all the people who show up on them regularly.

I am surprised that the Sumter County Sheriff's Office has not pressed more into enforcing various FL state laws and local ordinances with respect to speeding and the like. Seems this is more of a political solution involving the developers' clout than a legal one.

I'm not talking about felonies. I'm talking about traffic infractions. What's the difference between speeding and reckless driving? Why can they enforce one and not the other?

[KayakerNC]

It could be worse.

Ohio man charged with DUI on barstool

NEWARK, Ohio — Authorities in Ohio say the vehicle being used by a man charged with drunken driving was a motorized barstool. Quantcast

Police in Newark, 30 miles east of Columbus, say when they responded to a report of a crash with injuries on March 4, they found a man who had wrecked what appeared to be a barstool sitting atop a deconstructed lawn mower.

Twenty-eight-year Kile Wygle was hospitalized for minor injuries. Police say he was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he told an officer at the hospital that he had consumed 15 beers. A police report says Wygle also claimed his motorized barstool could go up to 38 mph.

Wygle has since pleaded not guilty and has requested a jury trial.

A simple online search turns up several Web sites devoted to barstool racing.

Copyright ©2008 The Enquirer.

[SteveFromNY]

I saw the picture on yahoo of the barstool. It's hilarious! It's built on a lawn mower. Here's a link to the pic:

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/bar-st...53JTrVBPwDW7oF

[duffertom]

If the Districts have no law making ability, and it appears nobody else does either, than the stop signs have no meaning on the cart paths.
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