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Thursday, June 05, 2008

Ind. Law - "Bloomfield to 'test' golf carts on the streets this weekend"

Timberly Ferree of the Greene County Daly World reported June 3rd:

Look for golf carts on the streets of Bloomfield this Saturday and Sunday.

During a two-hour meeting on Tuesday, the Bloomfield Town Council voted 2-1 to suspendthe town's no golf cart ordinance with several requirements for the 48 hour period--which includes the annual town-wide yard sale event Saturday.

Board President Jo Ann Carmichael along with Board member Aaron Hamm voted to suspend the ordinance while Council Member Roger Doane cast the dissenting vote.

Requirements on the ordinance suspension in part include: the operators must hold a valid driver's license and proof of insurance, along with vehicle requirements that include head and tail lights and a slow moving vehicle emblem. The carts must also be registered at town hall prior to Saturday. The suspension will only include the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on both Saturday amd Sunday.

Town attorney John Rowe was requested by the council to explain the weekend suspension. "It doesn't mean the operation (of a golf cart) would be authorized," he explained, noting that the council is only suspending the ordinance. "The town doesn't sanction it. It's just not a town ordinance during that time," he added.

But, that doesn't affect state laws, he advised. State statutes pertaining to golf carts are interpreted differently. "The town police also enforce state and federal laws," Rowe said.

During discussion on the matter, Carmichael explained, "If something goes wrong and somebody does something stupid it will probably never get suspended again."

Doane warned that the state police could still ticket drivers of golf carts.

Bloomfield Police Department Chief Deputy Shane Smith added that the police would not be looking to ticket golf carts during the yard sale event, but that lifting the ordinance could cause other problems.

"It will be our (BPD) biggest problems that day trying to keep the peace between golf carts and four-wheelers," he said."I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just saying it will cause a problem."

One resident spoke up by asking, "This is such a controversy why do it?" "It's like opening up a can of worms with four-wheeler owners, she added.

Carmichael then said, "Aaron (Hamm) and I talked about golf carts before the (fall 2007) election and we were definitely for golf carts on the streets of Bloomfield...it's definitely to test the waters." Hamm agreed that the suspension would be a trial period only.

Carmichael also encouraged the BPD to write tickets if the rules of the road are not obeyed. "If a golf cart runs a atop sign I would encourage them (BPD) to give a ticket...," she said. * * *

After the meeting, Doane explained his 'no' vote by simply pointing to a list of golf cart state statutes and saying, "I think it's a tragedy waiting to happen. The State Police have blatantly said they will issue tickets."

The comments section after the story is also interesting. One comment links to this story about the Town of Portland's successful golf cart ordinance, in effect since late 2006. The details of the ordinance were covered in this Dec. 11, 2006 ILB entry.

Here are some earlier ILB entries on Bloomfield and golf carts. Here is a long list of ILB entries on golf carts and the law.

Another golf cart story, from WLKI News, dated June4th:

(ANGOLA) - The use of golf carts will continue to be banned this year in the Steuben County Park campgrounds. Steuben County Commissioners acted upon a recommendation from Park Superintendent Eric Ditmars yesterday after he met recently with a handful of campers. He listed several reasons why he felt golf carts should be banned. Topping the list was children driving the vehicles. The use of motorized wheel chairs will be allowed.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 5, 2008 07:23 AM
Posted to Indiana Law