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Sunday, August 02, 2009
Ind. Law - Enthusiasm continues for use of golf carts in smaller communities
Updating this long list of ILB golf cart entries, and specifically this list from July 15th, here are some recent stories:
- Decatur - "Gentlemen and ladies, start your golf carts! You can legally drive them on Decatur's streets beginning today ... after, that is, you've had city police check over and register your vehicle." A July 22nd story. The story provides complete details on the ordinance.
- Madison - "Golf carts would be allowed on most city streets but not on state roads, U.S. 421 or Michigan Hill if the City Council approves an ordinance introduced Tuesday." A July 22nd story.
- Berne - A July 29th story in the Decatur Daily Democrat reports:
Attorney Mark Burry, who serves as legal counsel for the board of Adams County commissioners, reported on Monday that he has submitted a proposed golf cart ordinance to the county prosecuting attorney for review.
A second story at the same link begins:Prosecutor Chris Harvey, in turn, is seeking opinions and legal clarifications from various state officials about the ability of Indiana counties to regulate the use of golf carts on county roadways, Burry said.
The Indiana General Assembly in its recent session adopted a statute giving municipalities across the state the ability to govern golf cart use in their respective communities. The towns of Monroe and Geneva, as well as the city of Decatur, have adopted guidelines governing the use of those motorized vehicles. Berne was to open talks on the issue later Monday evening.
However, according to Burry, there are varying legal opinions about whether the state statute permits Indiana counties to adopt similar legislation. Burry noted that in a recent conversation with State Rep. Matt Lehman, the first-term Republican lawmaker from Berne said it was "not the legislature's intent to deprive counties of the ability to adopt an ordinance" governing the use of golf carts.
The draft legislation prepared by Burry is modeled after legislation adopted in Monroe and is, he said, less restrictive than the ordinance recently adopted by Decatur City Council.
Burry said the golf cart issue has been "a concern and a frustration in the past few weeks" at both the county and municipal levels.
The traveling golf cart controversy that has wound its way through cities and towns in recent weeks puttered into Berne on Monday evening as the final stop on its countywide tour.
With a handful of local residents on hand to offer their thoughts and insights into legislation that ultimately will govern the use of golf carts on city streets, Berne City Council vowed to act quickly to adopt some type of ordinance that addresses necessary safety issues without being overly restrictive on golf cart operators.
The Indiana General Assembly in its recent session adopted a statute giving municipalities across the state the ability to draft ordinances governing golf cart use in their respective communities. Until such ordinances are adopted, the use of golf carts technically remains illegal on city streets.
The towns of Monroe and Geneva and the city of Decatur recently adopted guidelines governing the use of those motorized vehicles. Similar legislation reportedly has been approved in Portland and Bluffton.
"Everybody around us has an ordinance addressing the situation," said Berne Councilman Ron Dull.
Copies of several of those are ordinances had been given to member of Berne City Council, and Councilman Mike Poulson asked residents in attendance at Monday's meeting to "tell us what you think the pros and cons of those existing ordinances are."
- Winona - "WINONA LAKE- Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday morning approved a golf cart ordinance for the town.
"The ordinance permits the use of a golf cart on a public highway in Winona Lake.
"The council previously discussed at its July 14 meeting adopting an ordinance for golf cart usage in the town. The Indiana legislature adopted house bill 1483 that clarifies the status of golf carts being used on public streets and highways." From a July 29th story.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on August 2, 2009 11:55 AM
Posted to Indiana Law