Golf Cart Ordinance Discussed in Old Saybrook
Many residents are concerned such a scenario could very well be a reality and filled the conference room at the July 6 Selectmen’s Meeting to give their support.
“A couple years ago we had some issues stemming from a resident who had concerns about people letting their children hang off golf carts, taking the golf carts out to go shopping, and overloading the cart with too many people,” First Selectman Michael Pace said, adding “we have received a lot of calls into the police department about misuse.”
Old Saybrook Police Officer Adam Stewart has spoken with many parents who have allowed their children to use golf carts and some have not been receptive to police who advise them of the appropriate use of golf carts.
“The crazy thing about our society is we have to legislate common sense,” Pace said.
As a result, Stewart has been working on drafting an ordinance limiting golf cart use on state and town roads and sidewalks to people 16 years of age and older who have a valid driver’s license and those under the age of 16 using a motorized wheelchair or similar vehicle because of a physical disability.
The ordinance would require golf carts and similar vehicles to use exterior lighting between sunset and sunrise because Stewart said it is dangerous for these carts to be driven around at night with no lights.
“Many people think they (golf carts) are regulated as motor vehicles but that is not correct and that is where we ran into the problem. We want to regulate the use of golf carts operated by minors or people driving recklessly,” Stewart said.
Care was made though to ensure the ordinance did not limit usage of golf carts by those using them legitimately, Pace said, adding “the issue is who is using them and how they are using them.”
“Some people want to load their golf cart with their chairs, food, and go to the beach and we have provisions for that,” Stewart said.
Pace agreed and advocated using golf carts for that use since they do not produce pollution like motor vehicles.
“We also did not want to forbid those (who have electric chairs) from going to Main Street,” Stewart said.
Golf carts do not have to be registered under the ordinance, Stewart said, but recommended beach associations have a registration program.
Knollwood Beach Improvement Association President George Dagon said their beach association has already enacted a similar ordinance and require members to register their golf carts and place a decal on them with a number.
Dagon said if there is a problem with the driver of the golf cart, the cart’s owner can easily be researched.
Charles Chadwick, Warden of the Borough of Fenwick, said the borough had regulations since 1967 regarding golf carts with the honor system but expressed concerns about liability since “most people don’t understand how to get insurance coverage” and homeowner’s coverage usually does not cover accidents in golf carts.
Stewart said the ordinance would apply to all town and state roads in beach associations but would not apply to private roads.
Presidents wanting the ordinance to apply to their beach associations are encouraged to write endorsement letters to Pace which will be forwarded to the state.
Police can then enforce the ordinance in those associations if it becomes law.
Several residents wondered whether the proposed $100 fine for those 16 and over would be enough of a deterrent, but Town Attorney Michael Cronin said state law prohibits a town from enacting an ordinance with penalties higher than $100.
Although the police cannot fine those under 16, Stewart said the police could serve them with a summons for juvenile court.
Parents usually hire an attorney to represent their child in court, and the cost of one would act as a deterrent, Stewart believes.
“Our personnel are eager for the ordinance to get passed because our hands are tied,” Old Saybrook Police Lieutenant Michael Spera said.
The ordinance has already been voted and passed by the town’s police commission.
Town Attorney Michael Cronin suggested the drafted ordinance be forwarded to the state to make sure it does not violate state law.
State Representative Marilyn Giuliano, who lives near South Cove in Old Saybrook, said she is “happy to bring it to the state level and to expedite it as fast as possible.”
