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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Ind. Law - More on: "Southern Illinois town saves gas money with golf carts"; Illinois has authorizing statute

Updating yesterday's ILB entry, it appears that towns all over Illinois are jumping on the golf cart band wagon. Steve Schmadeke of the Chicago Tribune has a lengthy story today headlined "Gas-sipping golf carts win over small towns." Some quotes:

Three Iroquois County burgs—Crescent City, Ashkum and Danforth—recently passed ordinances opening their streets to golf carts, and at least two other towns south of Kankakee were poised to enact similar laws. One of those towns, Gilman, scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday. Community leaders say their motives are mixed: They are acting in part to help residents cope with record gas prices, but also to regulate a mode of transport that has become more popular.

The idea has taken hold in rural towns from Indiana to North Carolina. It has even reached Chicago's densely populated northern suburbs, where Wheeling is considering a similar move solely for the fuel-saving benefits. * * *

Newly written ordinances in Iroquois County permit licensed drivers of golf carts that are outfitted with headlights, turn signals, brake lights and a reflective sign to roam on town streets that have speed limits no higher than 35 m.p.h. The carts are not supposed to go faster than 25 m.p.h., according to federal regulations.

In one town, Danforth, owners must also register their golf carts.

Illinois towns have been free to open their roads to golf carts since 1998, when state legislators passed an authorizing law over the objections of the Illinois Municipal League, which opposed it for safety reasons. At least 11 other states have similar laws, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. [ILB - emphasis added]

Municipal League executive director Larry Frang said it has been rare for towns to give golf carts a green light. But, times have changed since 1998, when gasoline prices fell to $1.03 per gallon.

In Franklin County, the town of Sesser passed a golf-cart ordinance July 3, emulating nearby Breeze, said City Council Member Bob Woll. He said that it not only will help residents sick of high gas prices, but it also will save the town $600 a year by using a golf cart (Woll's) instead of a pickup to check water meters.

On Jan. 8, Ashkum (population 724, with no golf course) became the first Iroquois County town this year to change its ordinance.

Now even Mayor Paul Heideman, a gas-company supervisor, can be seen driving an electric cart seven blocks from his home to Assumption Catholic Church on Sundays. He said the town acted in part to keep youths from driving the carts, but gas prices were also on their minds. The first paragraph of their ordinance touts golf carts' "energy-efficient mobility."

To rev iew a list of all of the many ILB entries on golf cart ordinances, type "golf cart" in the search box in the right column.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 16, 2008 06:44 AM
Posted to Indiana Law