by Dana Wilbourn
posted September 19, 2008
A contingent of citizens asked the Lookout Mountain, Ga., City Council on Thursday for an ordinance that would allow them to drive golf carts on city streets. Currently, five citizens own golf carts. Others are awaiting the council’s decision before purchasing their own golf carts.
The council has been reluctant to enact an ordinance allowing golf carts because of safety concerns. Council members say they have witnessed unlicensed children driving golf carts on city streets with other children hanging on all sides of the cart. One council member said, “Any accident involving a golf cart and a car, no doubt, the golf cart loses.”
Citizen David Bennett said it is not just four or five families wanting golf carts. He says he has had many calls from other citizens in support of golf carts. Mr. Bennett introduced Randy Wilson, an attorney, to speak to the council on behalf of the citizens desiring a golf cart ordinance.
Mr. Wilson said that golf carts are referred to as motorized carts and are not the same as low-speed vehicles which are legal anywhere in Georgia on streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. A motorized cart, he said, weighs about 1,300 pounds and can reach speeds of 20 mph. Low-speed vehicles must be able to reach at least 20 mph but no more than 25 mph.
Mr. Wilson showed the council applicable state law that allows the council to draft an ordinance regulating the use of golf carts on city streets. Such regulations, he said, could include any number of the safety features that low speed-vehicles are manufactured with. He said the council could stipulate that only licensed drivers could operate golf carts and certain limits of liability insurance be required.
As to safety, citizens said bicycles are allowed on city streets and they will always lose in an accident with a car. So what’s the difference, they asked?
Mr. Wilson said citizens are only asking the council to draft an ordinance for greater regulation of golf carts. The city currently has no ordinance for golf carts. These citizens, he said, are only advocating responsible use. One citizen said, “I’ll make mine a Cadillac, if you want. Just tell me what you want it to have.”
Other communities in Georgia have golf cart ordinances, Mr. Wilson said. He cited Peachtree City, Roswell, and Tyrone. Mayor Tom Gifford said Peachtree City is a planned golf community and has over 80 miles of golf cart paths separate from the streets.
Mr. Wilson said golf carts cost about $2,500 and low-speed vehicles cost about $6,500. A typical safety package can be added to golf carts for about $400, he said. He did not itemize which safety items were included for that price.
In the absence of an ordinance, anyone inquiring at city hall about operating a golf cart within the city is given an affidavit with a list of vehicle requirements for low-speed vehicles. The list includes: headlamps, stop lamps, turn signals, a rotating amber warning light, tail lights, reflectors, a parking brake, a rear view mirror, a windshield, and seat belts. The vehicle must be able to be titled and tagged, as well.
Mayor Gifford said it is impossible under Georgia law to modify a golf cart to the standards of a low-speed vehicle. They won’t title a golf cart because the VIN number will not identify it as a low-speed vehicle, he said.
Council members said they would revisit their discussion on golf carts at the next meeting. Besides safety, they said, they must consider the will of the rest of the community, the potential for abuse, enforcement, and the potential for large numbers of golf carts on city streets.
The council also voted to approve, on second reading, an ordinance for a sewer rate increase.
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