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Thursday, June 07, 2007

Ind. Law - More Indiana golf cart ordinances

Continuing its exhaustive coverage of the regulation of the use of golf carts on streets and roads in Indiana -- see long list of prior ILB entries here -- the surprise today is this story from The Commercial Review, "Jay County's Daily Newspaper." Reported by Jennifer Tarter, the story begins:

GENEVA - Discussion on regulating golf cart usage on town streets drew an unusually large crowd at Tuesday's council meeting.

"Over the last couple years, we've had a problem with kids on golf carts," Geneva town marshal Rob Johnson said, kicking off discussion on the issue.

Johnson drafted the proposed ordinance after contacting approximately 20 towns the size of Geneva and requesting a copy of town ordinances on golf cart usage. Johnson received six ordinances from other towns and used portions of those ordinances to draft the proposed ordinance.

The proposed ordinance states that the operators of a golf cart must obey traffic and parking laws; and that golf carts may only be operated during daylight hours and be equipped with headlights, tail lights and turn signals. It also states that the golf cart should be covered by liability insurance, be annually registered for $5 at the town's police department and the owner must sign a copy of the ordinance and agree to these regulations. Also, all passengers shall be seated and that the cart should be equipped with a slow moving vehicle sign.

"My number one restriction I would like to see is an age limit (for driving)," Johnson said.

The proposed ordinance states that operators must be a minimum of 16-years-old.

Several audience members disagreed with the proposed age limit suggesting ages of 14 or 15-years-olds to drive only with a parent in the passenger seat.

According to state laws, golf carts cannot be operated, parked, or driven on state or U.S. highways. In Geneva, this would include U.S. 27 (Main Street) and Ind. 116 (West Line Street).

The surprise? In earlier entries, the pressure for ordinances permitting golf carts on local streets and roads has seemed to come from aging baby boomers.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 7, 2007 03:59 PM
Posted to Indiana Law