« Ind. Decisions - More on: "Love the wine? You must visit the vine" | Main | Ind. Courts - Vanderburgh County major drug prosecutions may fall next year due to budget constraints »
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Ind. Law - "Golf carts a possibility on Oldenburg streets"
Debbie Blank reported Aug. 8th in the Batesville Herald Tribune:
Will golf carts be a common sight on Oldenburg streets in coming months? All sorts of vehicles were debated at the Aug. 4 council meeting.“There are a lot of people in town that would like to legalize golf carts,” which would be more economical to operate than larger vehicles with the high cost of gas, said Dan Weigel. Two other advantages: “They're quiet” and carts would “make it easy to run to the store.”
Although it seems like a novel idea, carts are legal in nine Indiana towns, according to Weigel, and three more are talking about it. In Fairfield County, Ohio, police use golf carts to patrol the streets, he added.
After reading guidelines from other towns, Weigel reported, “You have to be a licensed driver,” which would rule out kids operating the carts. They would have to be equipped like streetworthy vehicles, with turn signals, lights and seat belts. “Some have slow moving vehicle signs.” * * *
Town attorney Tom O’Connor wondered if Hoosier golf cart ordinances have been tested in court.
Moeller asked, “Do any of these towns have a state highway running through them?” Weigel answered yes. Some ordinances allowed carts to cross state highways, but not travel on them.
Moeller questioned, “How fast do they go? If I get behind you and I'm in a hurry ...” According to Weigel, one ordinance stated carts couldn't be driven on roads with speed limits above 35 miles per hour.
Moeller acknowledged, “It's worth looking into.” If town leaders decide to allow golf carts, “we'd be on the cutting edge.”
Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 12, 2008 07:14 AM
Posted to Indiana Law