From fairways to freeways?

By Nate Smith, Staff Writer

June 26, 2009 10:01 pm

— The streets in Daviess County have been littered with outlaw vehicles, slowly holding up traffic in areas that some would call dangerous.
But soon, golf carts will be legal in several cities and towns in the state. Starting July 1, carts with the proper modifications will be legal if the cities and towns a driver lives in passes an ordinance doing so.
Depending on where one lives in Daviess County, the debate on the ordinance may come as soon as the law takes effect. Town council members in Odon, Montgomery and Plainville said this week the ordinance will be discussed at their July meetings.
“We’ll probably present it for a vote in our July meeting,” Odon Town Council President Keith Bechtel said.
Bechtel went on to say the council had discussed the ordinance at a meeting in June and asked its attorney to draw up the ordinance.
Another town board member, Tommy Noble, said the town will probably pass the ordinance.
“I’m completely for them and most of the council is for them,” Noble said. “We won’t be charging a (cart) fee, unlike Loogootee.”
Loogootee already passed an ordinance earlier this month, according to Mayor Don Bowling. The fee, $25, will not go into effect until July 1.
In Plainville, Town Board President Dick Heshelman said the issue will be brought up at the board’s next meeting in July. The usual date, the second Thursday of the month, is being changed for July, Heshelman said.
Washington Mayor Larry Haag said Thursday the city is looking at the law and asked City Attorney Jeff Norris to research it, but could not say if the council would see or vote on an ordinance in July.
“There’s been some discussion and we are continuing to do some research,” Haag said.
A message was left with Elnora Town Board member Jerry Beck.
The largest issue on the carts may be in Montgomery, where many carts can be seen on the town roads. Board President Mike Healy said the town board will discuss the matter but he said “on a personal basis, I don’t want (an ordinance.)”
“I can’t speak for the rest of the board,” Healy said. “But I don’t think they are safe to be on city streets.”
Earlier this summer, accidents have been reported in the town from golf carts. On May 30, a child was taken to Daviess Community Hospital after a cart flipped over onto her. On May 20, a 12-year-old girl sustained injuries to her legs after a cart accident in Montgomery.
And until an ordinance is passed, operating carts on town streets are illegal.
“They are breaking the law when they do such,” Healy said when asked about the carts. “Legalizing something that is already dangerous doesn’t make sense.”
Sgt. Chad Dick, public information officer with the Jasper Post of the Indiana State Police, said Thursday any proposed ordinance may require the cart to be operated by a licensed driver and the cart have an amber flashing light or a slow moving vehicle triangle.
Which is different from other slow-moving vehicles on streets, that is required to have a windshield, lights and other safety measures, according to Heath Knepp of Gordy’s Custom Buggys. They do not sell carts, but other vehicles that are legal.
“I think it’s one of those things that will have to be addressed,” Knepp said. “They can get (carts) customized. What we sell are legal electric vehicles. These (vehicles) are not just manufactured for just golf courses.”
Bechtel said he was in favor of carts, but wanted to make sure the carts will be safe along other cars.
“I am going to say is stress to the public they have to yield the right of way to larger vehicles,” Bechtel said. “Hopefully it will happen. We are going to try it.”

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