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Thursday, June 26, 2008

Ind. Law - More on golf carts in Lebanon

Tim Evans comprehensive front-page Indianapolis Star story Sunday, June 22nd (see ILB summary), headlined: "Debate rolls on: Hoosier towns mixed on regulation of golf carts, which advocates see as fuel-saving alternative," began:

LEBANON, Ind. -- Nadine Urban gets more upset every time she looks at her parked golf cart outside her Boone County home.

Gas prices have topped $4 a gallon, and Urban, a retiree, would like to use it to run errands around Lebanon. She was able to do that after the town adopted a 2006 ordinance allowing golf carts on local streets.

But a ticket from a State Police trooper and a subsequent local court ruling forced Urban to park her electric cart -- and town officials to shelve their ordinance.

A story on The INDY Channel, 6 News this evening reports:
LEBANON, Ind. -- A Boone County woman thought she was within the law when she drove her golf cart to the post office, but it cost her a heavy fine.

The legality of an ordinance that once allowed golf carts on Lebanon roads is now in question, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

Nadine Urban rides her electric golf cart on the grass of her Lebanon home because she can't drive it anywhere else, but that wasn't always true. * * *

Last year, Urban got a permit from the city that allowed her to drive the golf cart in town, with certain restrictions.

When she returned home from a trip on the cart recently, an Indiana State Police trooper issued her a ticket, contending what she was doing is dangerous and that she was violating state law.

A local judge later agreed, but Urban's husband said he doesn't think what happened is right. * * *

City officials declined an on-camera interview Wednesday, but the Lebanon's clerk-treasurer told Jameson that the ordinance in question is essentially on hold and that no new permits are being issued.

For more on golf carts, check this long list of entries from the ILB.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 26, 2008 05:48 PM
Posted to Indiana Law