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Friday, September 12, 2008

Ind. Law - "If residents want golf carts, contact lawmakers"

From the Sept. 11th Greene County Daily World, a story by Anna Rochelle. Some quotes:

The Worthington Town Council did not have anything about golf carts on its agenda this week, but a handful of citizens concerned about the issue got a bit of advice from Town Attorney Jacob Fish.

"If you want to get this law changed, contact your state legislator," said Fish.

Council member Gregg Roudebush brought the matter up, saying the town had been getting a lot of inquiries regarding the legality of golf carts.

Fish said there was nothing the town council could do to change the state law and the ordinance that was recently adopted provides guidelines for the use of golf carts in town in the event that the state law is changed.

From the Vincennes Sun Commercial, a story by Jennifer Jaqua dated Sept. 7th:
BICKNELL - Mayor Jon Flickinger has parked the city's golf carts here until he can get more information on the legality of using them.

"The city isn't using them now because of all that is happening in Vincennes," Flickinger said.

This spring the Board of Works here decided to use golf carts to read water meters in order to save on fuel.

Last month, the Vincennes City Council abandoned an ordinance that would have allowed golf carts on city streets because it conflicted with state law.

"The bottom line is, operating golf carts on a public highway or city street is illegal," said Sgt. Todd Ringle, spokesman for the Indiana State Police Post in Evansville. "To operate a vehicle on a public highway, it has to be registered and (license) plated with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and they won't register a golf cart." * * *

"I don't think people realize that this is a safety issue," Ringle said. "I think in the near future, we may see legislation that will focus on golf cart use specifically, but that just hasn't come around yet."

Flickinger said the decision to discontinue using the golf carts was made after several discussions with Police Chief Paul Jones.

"Several people own golf carts here, so there are quite a few, but the biggest question I've got is about underage kids driving them," Flickinger said. "For me, it's a question of the safety of it."

Oaktown Town Council member Brandon Groteguth said he believes close to 50 percent of the households there have golf carts.

"They are everywhere around here," he said. "We don't have too many problems with them here though, and that's the good thing about a small town."

Groteguth said the council hears occasional complaints, but most of those center around underage drivers or people driving golf carts who don't observe speed limits and stop signs.

"Our town marshal doesn't ticket golf cart drivers who are over the age of 16," Groteguth said. "The town doesn't currently have an ordinance, and we have no plans to develop one at this time."

Groteguth said the town uses golf carts to read water meters, and that in a smaller community like Oaktown, golf cart use is safer.

"I don't think I'd drive one in Vincennes. It's too busy, and there are too many people," he said. "But here, most people have their driver's license, and most use their heads and it's really not a big problem."

Check here for a complete list of ILB golf cart stories.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on September 12, 2008 06:51 AM
Posted to Indiana Law