| 11/14/2008 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | ISP to ticket golf carts
driven on city streets
Peggy Vlerebome
Courier Staff Writer
The Indiana State Police will ticket golf carts being driven on streets, Mayor Tim Armstrong said Thursday.
Police Chief John Wallace said the ISP sent a message to law enforcement agencies a couple of months ago saying it was going to "crack down" on golf carts on streets as several Indiana communities were discussing or passing ordinances allowing carts on streets as gas prices rose. State law does not allow regular golf carts on streets, he said.
At least one Madison resident has a golf cart with safety features that qualify it for having a license plate and being legal on streets, a resident at the Mayor's Night Out session Thursday night in District 2 said.
Golf carts are common on Michigan Road and the streets off it as golfers drive to and from Sunrise Golf Course.
One of the five city residents at the Mayor's Night Out at Shawe Memorial High School said Madison police always have looked the other way, and Police Chief John Wallace acknowledged that that has been the practice as long as he has been on the police force, 22 years.
The ticketing of golf carts came up when the resident, John Branigan, asked if he would get "the same consideration" if he drove his golf cart from his home on Westwood Lane to Walgreens, CVS or Kroger as he does when he drives his cart to and from Sunrise.
The golf cart is "low-speed alternative transportation," Branigan said. "My cart gets about three times more fuel efficiency than my most fuel-efficient car."
"It is a violation, technically, of state law," Wallace said.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, November 17, 2008
Article comment by:
Anonymous Golf Cart Owner
As a golf cart owner in Madison, I find this ridiculous. As far as I can remember, golf carts have been a staple to the community and I cannot remember one single incident involving a golf cart and an injury. This policy could potentially determine whether or not I purchase a pass to Sunrise Golf Course in 2009. From what I understand, the City is already having difficulty supporting Sunrise and this will only have negative results. Nothing positive comes out of this. I think this is a situation where the City needs to come up with a solution that benefits golf cart owners and meets the needs of ISP. If we need to get them registered or use slow-moving vehicle signs, this direction needs to be provided, otherwise, you will see a huge dip in revenue for the city course.
Posted: Sunday, November 16, 2008
Article comment by:
Shawn Tippie
Wow I am glad to hear that Indiana is crime free to the point State police can make this a priority!
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