|
Berne unveils golf cart proposal |
|
Written by Reporter1
|
|
Tuesday, 11 August 2009 |
|
Page 2 of 2
restrictions on the use of the popular four-wheeled vehicles.
Included in the draft legislation, which council intends to adopt in two weeks, were restrictions on the maximum speed, hours of legal operation, and the number and minimum age of golf cart passengers.
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.
At its July 27 meeting, council listened as a handful of local residents offered their thoughts about legislation that ultimately will govern the use of golf carts on city streets. Council members vowed to act quickly to adopt some type of ordinance that addresses necessary safety issues without being overly restrictive on golf cart operators. The towns of Monroe and Geneva and the city of Decatur have adopted guidelines governing the use of those motorized vehicles.
The proposed Berne ordinance restricts the use of golf carts to secondary streets within the city. The vehicles may cross U.S. 27 and State Route 218 at any intersection, but cannot legally be operated on those highways.
The draft ordinance also sets the top legal speed for golf carts at 30 mph and requires the vehicles to be operated "as close to the right edge of the street or alley as possible." Driving or parking the carts on city sidewalks would be prohibited, and their use on any city street between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. would also be banned.
Operators must be licensed drivers and the vehicles must be fully insured for a minimum period of 12 months, with proof of insurance kept in or on the carts. Under the terms of the proposed ordinance, all golf carts must by equipped with factory seating for all occupants, a rear view mirror, head, tail and brake lights, front and rear turn signals, with a slow moving vehicle sign a attached to the rear of the vehicle.
The maximum occupancy per golf cart, according to the draft legislation, would be limited to the number of factory-installed seats on each vehicle. When the cart is in motion, all occupants must be seated — one per manufactured seat — and no child under the age of 3 would be allowed to ride in the vehicles. Seat belts are not mentioned in the proposed ordinance.
At the recommendation of Mayor John Minch, a $30 registration fee will be required for all golf carts using city streets. The fee will be paid to the Berne Police Department at the time of registration, and a sticker will be issued to owners for that current calendar year. The stickers would be required to be displayed on the left side of the rear bumper of all carts.
Violations of the proposed law would carry minimum fines of $50. A second offense within one calendar year could lead to the revocation of the cart registration and possible impoundment of the vehicle.
City Attorney Bob Biberstein said Berne's proposed golf cart ordinance is a composite of regulations and restrictions included in similar ordinances in area towns and cities.
"We have compiled an ordinance we felt was appropriate for Berne," he said. "We don't want to move too quickly on this, but we don't want to drag our feet, either. We plan to act on this in a timely manner, after we collect input from local residents for the next two weeks," Biberstein said.
Councilman Ron Dull said that "unless something catastrophic comes up, my feeling is that in two weeks we will approve this ordinance as an emergency measure," which bypasses the normal three-reading process for the adoption of city laws.
Copies of the draft legislation were distributed to a handful of golf cart operators in attendance at Monday's meeting. Biberstein said additional copies will be made available at the office of the city clerk-treasurer for review by residents.
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 August 2009 )
|
