Talk of The Villages Florida - traffic cop on bailey trail cited me driving a unregistered vehicle.

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- - traffic cop on bailey trail cited me driving a unregistered vehicle. (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/traffic-cop-bailey-trail-cited-me-driving-unregistered-vehicle-75432/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubicon (Post 663116)

Including this one we now have 120 posts and we still do not know how fast the OP was traveling when he received a ticket .

Can we assume that of one driving a golf cart travels in excess of 20mph (20.1.........) he/she can be ticketed

Why don't you call the OP and ask him? He posted his phone number in his first post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubicon (Post 663116)

Over on my post about the friend who had to go to court, the guy who showed up a day late and was arrested got his original citation for going 23 mph. I no longer remember... what is the top speed limit for a golf cart? (We don't have one.)

when a person buys a golf cart they are set correctly for 19.6 mph. Most they will go is 20 mph. To go faster someone had to move the limiter on the cart. That being said . The person who drives faster then the original speed knows that the speed has been changed. Getting a ticket always seems to happen. Then they complain. You want to go faster then enjoy the ticket.

On a related issue, is it illegal to pass walkers or bikes since it requires leaving the diamond lane?

Quote:

Originally Posted by naneiben (Post 663328)

On a related issue, is it illegal to pass walkers or bikes since it requires leaving the diamond lane?

That's a good question. I thought walkers were not supposed to be in the diamond lane if there is a sidewalk. Anybody? I don't know about bikes. Is there a minimum speed that must be maintained in the diamond lane?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 663355)

You could go 1 mph if you want. there is no set speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerald (Post 663226)

When a person buys a cart they usually don't have speedometers. Not many of us can tell the difference between 19.9 and 20 mph, or 21, 22 or 23 mph simply by the way the cart drives. What, other than a flashing red light in your mirror, would make you suspect that your cart is too fast? There are plenty of carts out there cruising along at 12 to 16 mph so you wouldn't know by the number of slower carts out there. There are plenty of carts doing in excess of 25 mph so even if you're clipping along at 23 mph you're likely going to be passed frequently.

I know it was posted on here before but I don't remember where. Someone posted that the diamond lane may be left to facilitate a left hand turn or to pass in a safe manner. I believe the poster quoted Lt. Wolfe from SCSO. I personally don't know he actually stated that. Quite frankly I would think walking in any active motor traffic lane would at best present a hazardous condition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonH57 (Post 662034)

Speaking of that in comparison to other traffic laws I always wondered how if you drive 21 mph in a golf cart and the limit is 20 mph the "speeding ticket" becomes "driving an unregistered vehicle". If you are going 21 in a 20 zone in a car it's still called speeding. The dierence in fine amounts makes me question the intent of public safety measures as a automobile becomes a heavier projectile with speed. Maybe I'm confusing myself now but I dn't understand the fine ratio as per vehicle type. Maybe others understand. ?

A golf cart that is capable of going over 19.9 mph is classified as a "Low Speed Vehicle" and must be registered and have all of the same safety equipment as a car.

Thanks Winston for that description on that statute. I guess my confusion is based on the way I posed the question or the way I wrote it. When I get a chance I'll get online and read the full statute on low speed vehicles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonH57 (Post 663370)

I know it was posted on here before but I don't remember where. Someone posted that the diamond lane may be left to facilitate a left hand turn or to pass in a safe manner. I believe the poster quoted Lt. Wolfe from SCSO. I personally don't know he actually stated that. Quite frankly I would think walking in any active motor traffic lane would at best present a hazardous condition.

I would be hard pressed to think of one single diamond lane with an adjacent sidewalk north of 466

Oh wait, I thought of one ..... Mulberry Ln. from BVB to Belle Meade Cr. .... total distance about 1/4 mile.

I should clarify I not trying to say it's illegal for pedestrians to walk there. I just personally would not do it. I see people do it on one of our adjacent streets walking either facing against or with the direction of traffic.

Lots of posts here from cart owners not knowing the true speed of their golf carts. If you don't have or do not wish to have a speedometer installed on your cart, you can borrow or mount your GPS on your cart to see what the top speed is. Also, if you have an I phone or Smart Phone, you can download a free app called Speedometer and check your speed that way.

Better to be in the know than reaching in your wallet to pay for the infraction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston (Post 661972)

Goodie two shoes comments aside I think the bigger issue is that golf cart laws are archaic when it comes to golf cart communities like TV. These are not your average golf carts anymore. Many of us have seat belts, some have enclosures, some have beefed up brakes and suspensions etc. etc.

Does anyone really think 24 mph is too fast in the diamond lanes? I don't. I have one cart that is governed at 20mph and I get passed by 40% of drivers on Bailey Trail. I'm not mad at them and they do it safely. My other cart is capable of exceeding 20mph but I try to keep it around 22 or so but even that seems slow.

Let's remember this (and you can search this site for verification): We were once told for many years that it is better to NOT have seat belts in our golf carts. Lt. Wolfe of Sumter County would cite some outdated and not relevant video showing roll overs. Well times have changed and if you read the POA bulletin every month you'll see that seat belts DO help the vast majority of cart accidents. My point is that just because we have a law doesn't mean the law shouldn't be reviewed and amended based on new technology. I think it is time for that review. But in the meantime don't get caught speeding or driving an 'unregistered vehicle (that's a joke)'

Your comments make more sense to me than any of the 14 pages I read on this subject. What do we have to do to get 'them' to amend the golf cart laws.
If a car goes 2 or 3 miles over the limit, they seldom get a ticket, but if a golf cart speeds by 2 or 3 mph, it suddenly becomes a killing machine in the eyes of some people. I'm wondering if these do-gooders that are SO strict about the speed of golf carts NEVER speed in their motor vehicle. After all, it IS against the law. lol
On another subject, bicycles vs. golf carts.....I still think I am much safer driving my golf cart than someone is in a bicycle, yet cyclists without registration are allowed to drive on the street with cars and I cannot in my non registered golf cart. They are exempt from the frivilous rules because they don't have a motor. ??? Doesn't make any sense to me, just because it is the law. I would be terrified to be riding a bicycle on a main street in the traffic. There are some weird laws in Florida!!! Just sayin!

Things that make you go, hmmmmmmm! Why are people who think the rules and laws apply to EVERYONE, called "Goodie Two Shoes"? Some laws may be archaic and need to be changed but they need to be changed, not ignored.