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Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Ind. Law - Where are all these golf carts coming from?

As I wrote Monday, in the entry headed "Jonesboro to consider golf carts ordinance," the ILB has had many entries on local golf cart regulation. Type "golf carts" in the search box in the right column to locate them.

Here is another Grant County story. NewsLink Indiana had a story earlier this week by Chris Lowry titled "Golf carts are becoming more popular in Grant County and across the country." Some quotes:

MARION, Ind. (NLI) – Golf carts are being used for more than just the golf course thanks to a Marion dealership selling them as primary transportation.

"Last year we sold 137 of the custom carts and about 75 of the regular carts," said Steve Mitchell of Electric Cars and Carts. "I expect to do better than that this year."

Mitchell estimated about 75 to 80 of those were sold to Grant County residents.

Employee Ethan Struwe said he's seen an increase in golf and custom cart sales in the last four years. He said electric carts are more efficient than gas-powered.

"It only takes six to eight hours to recharge," Struwe said. "Most customers can do it at night."

Struwe said it costs about 50 cents for enough electricity to charge a vehicle. A charge then lasts the vehicle about 50 to 75 miles, he said.

Mitchell said an electrical engineer told him the electric golf carts get the price equivalent of 842 miles per gallon. * * *

Golf carts have become so popular that Gas City has an ordinance making them street-legal if certain conditions are met. The driver must have a valid license, the vehicle must be insured and it must have headlights and tail lights, among other restrictions.

Indiana law states golf carts can drive on streets at 35 miles per hour or slower. One legal source suggests golf carts are allowed on Indiana highways if certain rules are met.

However, many police officers aren't aware of all the laws, Mitchell said. If golf carts are impeding traffic flow, police can pull them over.

Hmmm.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 18, 2007 02:21 PM
Posted to Indiana Law