Golf Cart Crackdown in Port Clinton - Golf carts and all-terrain vehicles have become a popular form of transportation at marinas and campgrounds across the township. And they've turned into a traffic hazard, township police Chief Jody Hatfield said. Township police and area authorities have begun stringent enforcement to keep them off township and state roads after repeated minor accidents and complaints, Hatfield said. Source: Port Clinton News Herald
Do you think there should be some sort law-shielding people from prosecution on certain roads, or should the drivers be charged the $100/violation?
posted by tekrat to outdoors at 10:12 P.M. EST (7 Comments)
Comments ...
NOT IN PORT CLINTON, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION WHEN READING. GREEN COVE IS BY DAVIS-BESSE, POST OFFICE OAK HARBOR.
Um, no, fine them. If they were outfitted with headlights, brake/taillights, and turn signals, and then licensed and titled as a motor vehicle, then they could be operated on the road. This is actually what is done on the islands. These clowns don't want to do all that because of the expense and insurance requirement. If they want to ride on the road, then they can get a bicycle and pedal their fat asses. If they really are disabled, then see those "scooter store" ads or they can still go about licensing their golf car or ATV.
posted by anonymouscoward at 11:04 P.M. EST on Sun Aug 13, 2006 #
I see nothing wrong with people driving them on neigborhood roads, but not on main or secondary roads. $100 fine is fair I think. I also think they should be allowed to drive wherever they want if they are in A/C's neighborhood, including his lawn and rosegarden. :) j/k
posted by fequalsma73 at 11:43 P.M. EST on Sun Aug 13, 2006 #
I see nothing wrong with people driving them on neigborhood roads, but not on main or secondary roads.
Except for the fact that if you're going to drive something on the road, you HAVE to follow the rules of the road. Which, for a motor vehicle, means an operator's license and proper lights and signals. I don't care if it's a 25mph neighborhood road or what. There's already too many morons out there with a cell phone clamped to the side of their head and a cup of coffee in the other, steering with their knee, for my comfort. Allow these folks to ride around on neighborhood streets in a golf cart or ATV and they'll be out on the main road to the store because "it's just a couple blocks away". Probably with their iPod earbuds in, so they can't hear jack. Not to mention they'll let their kids drive the damn thing there as well.
From a BMV/Title FAQ:
An applicant who wishes to register a golf cart or other USV must proceed as described below. A USV is a four-wheeled vehicle other than a truck that is originally designed and constructed for operation on a street or highway. Most golf carts are USVs.
1. The sheriff or chief of police of a jurisdiction where the applicant resides should send a letter to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Title Section, P.O. Box 16520, Columbus, Ohio 43266-0020, certifying that he or she has a program of inspecting golf carts and other USVs.
2. The sheriff or chief of police in the community (city, village, or township) provides the applicant with a certificate of inspection regarding the inspection requirements of the Ohio Administrative Code (O.A.C) Chapter 4501:2-1.
3. Confirm that the clerk of courts title office in the county has been authorized by the BMV to issue titles for USVs to individuals residing in the applicant’s community (city, village, or township).
4. Go to the Clerk of Courts Title Office in the county. The clerk will verify that the applicant resides in a community (city, village, or township) in which the chief of police has certified compliance with the vehicle inspection requirements of O.A.C. 4501:2-1. If verified and everything is in order, the clerk will issue the title.
5. Obtain insurance.
6. Take the title to a deputy registrar in that county. If all is in order, the deputy registrar will issue license plates.
7. Operate the golf cart or other USV in accordance with Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C) Chapter 4511 and with the equipment required by O.R.C. Chapter 4513.
NOTE: If USVs are operated only on private roads, then the operational equipment, and registration requirements would generally not apply. All motor vehicles operated on public streets and highways are subject to inspection as required by O.A.C. 4501: 2-1-01 through 4501: 2-1-21. The obligations of political subdivisions that undertake motor vehicle inspections are contained in part O.A.C. 4501:2-1-03.
Pay the ~$300 for a light package on the cart, go through the title/insurance/plate business, and there you go.
I must wonder if a golf cart driver would cut in front of me, and that cart is not titled/registered/insured, if that would constitute operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
posted by anonymouscoward at 12:09 A.M. EST on Mon Aug 14, 2006 #
More of government trying to find something to do, which always involves fines or taxes. Actually, I agree they should have lights, etc; but ONLY if people intend to use 'em on main roads. BTW-when did the laws change for bicycle riders? Back when I was a kid, and then a teenager, you couldn't operate a bike without: Lights, horn, reflectors, all that crap, and you either had to give hand signals or have electric turn signals (all this stuff was either battery operated or you had a small generator on the back wheel to power it). I've almost hit several kids lately riding in complete darkness and shooting across the street in front of me-and they don't have squat on their bikes, not even reflectors. I also had to purchase a license for my bikes, and hang the plate on the back. Apparently, that's out the window now, too. As I said, just when did the state change this stuff? I'd worry about the bike situation before golf carts,myself. Oh...yeah- but then, teenagers and younger kids on bikes aren't very good targets for providing cash for the state through fines. I forgot.
posted by Darkseid at 08:23 A.M. EST on Mon Aug 14, 2006 #
The problem with this is it affects so many other commuters who use alternative transportation. It's not just golf carts but it's also bicycles and even the amish with their horses and buggies.
posted by MikeyA at 11:34 A.M. EST on Mon Aug 14, 2006 #
Actually, I agree they should have lights, etc; but ONLY if people intend to use 'em on main roads.
Yeah, right. And they'll be out on the main roads without lights and if they get questioned they'll say that it was just a one-time thing, they didn't intend to use it on the main road. Or they'll argue about the definition of "main road".
Come on, you know people.
And you want these people out on the secondary roads with no lights and so on? So they can sue YOU when YOU hit them because they "have a right to be on the road" but you couldn't see them/they pulled out in front of you/etc.
The last thing I, as a motorcyclist, want, is to have to dodge kids joyriding golf carts and ATVs around on ANY road. It certainly makes it dangerous for ME, and let's not forget the law-breaking morons who are likely to end up as a grease spot when the big fat SUV runs over their puny golf cart. Personal responsibility. If you're going to buy a frigging golf cart, put the light package on it and license and insure it. Then you can ride it on the main road, no problem, and if you manage to get into an accident, there's insurance.
Of course, NOT having them licensed means they can argue about being busted for OMVI and so on. Or that the people busted for driving without insurance can ride around, without insurance, instead of having to pay more and show proof. Or that the drunks who have the breathalyzer interlock on the ignition can ride around now.
Sure, let's let them go out on the roads, uninsured, so when you hit one that was screwing off, it'll be YOUR insurance paying for YOUR repairs. Or so the kid's mom can claim that YOU were solely at fault for hitting and killing her little rugrat in the dark and how you were probably drunk and yakking on a cell phone while popping another CD into the stereo.
BTW-when did the laws change for bicycle riders? Back when I was a kid, and then a teenager, you couldn't operate a bike without: Lights, horn, reflectors, all that crap, and you either had to give hand signals or have electric turn signals (all this stuff was either battery operated or you had a small generator on the back wheel to power it). I've almost hit several kids lately riding in complete darkness and shooting across the street in front of me-and they don't have squat on their bikes, not even reflectors.
That hasn't, and they've just revised the books to put down clearer definitions, to include new tech such as a blinking red light/reflector on the back. But the cops haven't been enforcing the bike laws for ages.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_389
Looks like they ratcheted up the fines/enforcement there.
The problem with this is it affects so many other commuters who use alternative transportation. It's not just golf carts but it's also bicycles and even the amish with their horses and buggies.
Nice strawman.
Horse and buggy is not a motor vehicle. Bicycles are under a slightly different set of rules. What other alternative transportation are commuters using? You know someone who commutes to work on horseback? They secretly have a Moller SkyCar? A Segway?
posted by anonymouscoward at 04:35 P.M. EST on Mon Aug 14, 2006 #
You're correct they aren't motor vehicles but they are "slow moving vehicles" and are entitled to the road as much as automobiles. That's what I mean when it could be affecting them as well.
posted by MikeyA at 11:13 A.M. EST on Fri Aug 18, 2006 #