From a public safety standpoint, I would have to consider the impact of bicycles, motorized scooters, wheelchairs (yes, I see those used on our streets too), motorized bikes, scooters, surreys, and some of our speeding drivers. Just because a vehicle is bigger and faster than some of these other wheeled inventions, does not mean others do not have the right to utilize our public roads. The carts are the only vehicles that must travel in speed regulated areas, 35 mph or less, the other vehicles mentioned above are free to travel on roadways with higher speed limits. How safe can that be, from a public saftey standpoint?
How bout we slow down a bit and consider all others on the road? I think the highways belong to all of us, a little courtesy on everyone's part would go a long way toward making this a non-issue. :)

— By Eddie Gomez on Oct. 9 at 9:24 PM

Its pretty simple for me, enforce the rules that already exist.

problem solved. (and no I dont have a golf cart)

in just about every single case where public safety is mentioned, the occupants of the golf cart were likely already breaking the law, why write ANOTHER law for them to break, just ticket them for the existing law that was broken.

— By Allen Kinsel on Oct. 10 at 12:16 AM

The "takings" action for lost business from the no smaking ordinance may or may not get anywhere.

But if the city takes away the use, utility and enjoyment of a multi-thousand dollar vehicle with restrictions on use beyond what the state requires, the JP and/or municipal courts will be clogged with golfcart lawsuits for years. No lawyers required in either court. Except Suzie Green's. How many more will she ask the city for just to handle these cases.

I suspect most of the support for this Nanny Notion has come from behind the seawall. Why? Nobody east of 91st street has a golf cart so it doesn't affect them and they don't care.

Sort of like why should anyone west of 61st street care about what goes in on the Magnolia Homes Housing Authority site. It doesn't affect them, so who cares how it affects the east end.

Carpe Diem

— By robert strevell on Oct. 10 at 6:33 AM

I own a golf cart, and replaced mine after Ike with a brand new one. It's the only way I get around my neighborhood, and is perfectly legal. Punish the parents who let their children drive their golf carts and others who break the law...don't punish the rest of us. Like Robert said, prepare to see the courts clogged with lawsuits.

And if we're going to ban golf carts, how about bicycles who are constantly a hazard on FM3005 on the weekends? And those annoying little tourist type bikes that we see along the seawall. Let's not forget the kids on skateboards who dart in and out of driveways.

This is just more from the nanny government. Shouldn't our city leaders be working on other important issues rather than debating finding another way to regulate and control the citizens?

Mimi~

— By Mimi A. on Oct. 10 at 7:20 AM

How about lets make a law to have no more new laws throughout the land for a year. I'm tired of government trying to fix things. Give us a break!

— By joe Lott on Oct. 10 at 7:27 AM

Golf carts should be cruising the streets as permitted within the law. If carts were driving down Stewart Road or FM3005, they were breaking the law. I believe TXDOT's licensing/registering them caused a lot of confusion. I also believe the new HB2553 makes the law clear. No drinking, no kids driving, etc...all these things apply to golf carts as well. A few big fines and the message will get out quickly.

The law does not require any action to further regulate these carts unless the City wants to ban them totally or allow them everywhere. This issue is going on all over the country--NEVs, golf carts are being recognized as a safe, efficient mode of transportation in neighborhoods. I hope the City of Galveston is forward thinking enough to see the benefits.

— By Kathie Hayes on Oct. 10 at 7:44 AM

I support golf carts in neighborhoods.
They must be legal, with legal drivers, and driven safely according to all laws.
Regardless of what Galveston does, state law prohibits any golf cart on roads with speed limits above 35 MPH – with exception allowed only for carts to cross the roads.
When the state law changed last month, it dropped the registration requirement. That made carts illegal on roads, except for provisions including: to/from golf course within 2 miles, on the beach, and in Master Planned communities (MPC).
Maybe we're covered by MPC. But maybe some future city official interpets it otherwise.
So all council needs to do is approve golf carts on all city streets with 35 MPH or less. By state law, they must require the golf cart be insured and have headlamps, tail lamps, reflectors, parking brake, mirrors, and a slow-moving vehicle emblem.
State law already authorizes Low-Speed Vehicles (LSV) and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV), which have VINs, seat belts and other safety requirements.
State law prohibits All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), Utility Type Vehicles (UTV) or Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROV) on public streets.

— By Jackie Friedman on Oct. 10 at 9:21 AM

The use of golf carts in our west end neighborhood significantly cuts down on our traffic. We don't have large nicely curbed streets nor center stripes. Our speed limit is 20 mph, which isn't enforced by GPD anyway. We have asked GPD to ticket speeders along with the children driving golf carts illegally. We also have kids that skate board behind cars and ATVs. What we really need is for a GPD presence that we are already paying taxes for, to enforce the existing laws. I would much rather have our senior citizens driving around on golf carts that full size cars.

So, we have enough laws, what we need is a police force that is allowed to enforce the laws. I can't count how many times I have been told, we can't give kids tickets.

Golf carts are a good thing driven by the right people.

— By Susan G. on Oct. 10 at 9:22 AM

Susan,
Ask GPD to tow the offending vehicles. That will get the parents attention.
And we DO need council to legalize golf carts. That way, lights, reflectors, mirrors, and liability insurance will be required. So, when someone is injured or if a cart scrapes your car, it is covered.

— By Jackie Friedman on Oct. 10 at 9:43 AM

.....and I'm sure there have been "close calls" and "accidents. But, have there been close calls with individuals on bicycles? With motorcycles? With scooters? The Chief cites TWO police calls with accidents involving golf carts and 50% of those were with underage drivers. I can understand and respect his concern with safety but with all the modes of transportation I listed above there is an element of safety concern. I agree with many, "enforce the laws dealing with underage drivers and those who had too much adult beverage."

— By Charles Winsor on Oct. 10 at 1:01 PM

I think the public safety issue is what's most important.

— By Soli DeoGloria on Oct. 10 at 4:03 PM

As long as a golf cart is licensed, inspected, and insured as any other vehicle on the road let them run. Oh, and a licensed===sober driver should be at the wheel.

— By Don Ray on Oct. 10 at 10:28 PM

Jackie, we only need the council to get involved if they intend to allow carts all over town (under 35mph). That's also when the listed safety items come in--most carts already have these items anyway. Otherwise, HB2553 says we are legal in neighborhoods without council action. We are regulated to death--the laws currently in effect don't get enforced, why add to them?

Don--golf carts don't have to be licensed or inspected, but the driver should be!

— By Kathie Hayes on Oct. 11 at 2:22 PM

The folks who wrote HB2553 did a lot of work to get it right. The City of Galveston does not need to change the intent of this bill.
The state laws say that motorcycles and bicycles are street legal. Every year someone is killed and several injured during the Lone Star Rally, so if the COG is really interested in safety, then cancel that event and also take bicycles of the street.

— By Bill Hand on Oct. 11 at 4:59 PM

Bill--you are so right about the State of Texas and HB2553. I've had several conversations with the Senator & State Reps office that wrote the bill. I would be willing to bet you that most folks making comments have little or no knowledge about the laws governing golf carts. I think a lot of folks think we just started driving our carts last month--not 10 - 15 years ago. Of course public safety is important--that is why enforcing the existing law would take care of these problems. I hope the COG leaves well enough alone--or maybe do an ordinance that leaves the law as written, but adds a registration fee, etc....to offset some enforcement cost. I wouldn't be opposed to a reasonable fee or even requiring the minimum safety equipment (lights, parking brake, etc...which most carts already have). Actually, registration would help in the event of theft--COG would have the serial # to each cart. I saw an officer pull over some kids in Sea Isle and towed the cart--never saw them driving in here again. Parents had to pay to get the cart back--I don't think that would happen many times before the word gets out -- result, no more kids driving carts!

Can we stop with the Nanny state mentality wanting to over-regulate every aspect of our lives already?!!

— By Kathie Hayes on Oct. 11 at 8:28 PM

I thought of another example why registering the carts wouldn't be a bad idea--a stolen cart was found in Sea Isle but the owner could not be identified. The Police had no option but to tow it. The owners were weekenders and didn't realize their cart had been stolen for a couple of weeks. By the time they discovered it, the storage fees were into the $100's of dollars. Aren't bicycles supposed to be registered for the same reason?

— By Kathie Hayes on Oct. 11 at 8:37 PM

To think all of this started back on September 17 at the city council meeting when a group of us were there to push for allowing golf carts on the beach. It has now taken a turn to make all golf carts illegal on city streets. I don't want to lose the momentum that was started. Public safety is a very important aspect that should be considered. Think about it, we don't make automobiles, motorcycles or bicycles illegal on the streets because of accidents. The COG needs to enforce the law regarding golf carts and eventually, word will get out and we will see fewer very young children and reckless driving on golf carts.

— By Willa Nadalin on Oct. 12 at 10:11 AM

Let's allow golfcarts. Let's enforce the laws on them that all vehicles have to follow, must be operated by a LICENSED driver, must be registered and insured, no open containers or driven while intoxicated, and all required lights and horns. I agree they should never be allowed on roads where the speed limit is over 35 except to cross. I have seen what appeared to be 6 year old kids driving them, and that is a scary sight. They are clean, safe transportation and keep parking available on the beach for those that need it.

— By Chris McMullin on Oct. 12 at 11:05 AM

We live twenty miles out on the West End and live there for a reason. We collectively did not like the crowds and the congestion of the inner city island and moved out here to be away from the hustle and bustle. A part of the charm of the West End is the ability to load up our Golf Carts and drive to the beach. Now loading up a gold cart may sound simple enough if you're not a fisherman if you are you already understand where I'm going with this. Even if you want to just go and spend the day at the beach enjoying the water, sand and sun it requires an ice chest, chairs, umbrella, sun tan loation etc. etc. I guess it's easy for some of those folks who live in the city to comment about our comings and goings out here away from it all, but then they're there and we are here. As we get older the convenience of the golf cart becomes more and more paramount. Some of us live many blocks from the surf and walking there even without all our stuff would keep us at home. As one man said earlier, just quit messing with this issue we'll stay out of your hair and you stay out of ours (yes I paraphrased). We need our carts and we need them on the beach!

— By Dick Tate on Oct. 12 at 11:22 AM

The new TXDOT rules that went into effect on 9/1/09 specifically stated that golf carts are allowed on public and private beaches. These same statues will not allow golf carts to be registered but recognize their right to be on city streets and beaches with a licensed driver and proper equipment such as lights and a slow moving vehicle sign.

If the City is concerned about safety, then they should allow the public and golf carts access to the entire beach, not just a small portion. This creates its own safety hazard by forcing everyone into a limited area and the potential for a child to get caught in a fisherman's line or run over by a two ton truck.

Chief Wiley could then concentrate his efforts on policing the underage drivers.

— By Pat Kirk on Oct. 12 at 11:22 AM

I believe the law requires the safety equip, to be required when driven outside the Master Planned Community. It talks about headlamps, taillamps, etc..in Sec. 551.404(b) (operated under Subsection (a) if allowed on all or part of public highways). Most of the carts have this equipment anyway and insurance is very reasonable on these carts. I pay about $80 annually for full coverage. I hope the COG leaves well enough alone, but if they just have to regulate this a little more, then by all means let's make everyone comply with some safety equipment and put this thing to bed once and for all. Mayors, Council, Chiefs, City Staff come and go, but we will have to live within the rules. I don't want to fight this fight every few years.

It's like Mr. Tate says--a lot of us moved here to get away from the congestion of City life. We have been going about our business down here for years without problems with these carts. All of a sudden, it's front and center. For the number of carts around, the accidents have been extremely low. Kids are the problem!

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System says in 2008: 503,832 bicycle injuries, 149,577 skateboard injuries, 15,917 golf cart injuries. Based on those statistics, bicycle injuries occurred 30 times more than golf cart injuries, skateboard 9 times more. National Highway Traffic Safety Adm. says: Auto/Pedestrian accidents 69,000 with 4,378 fatalities. You were 4 times more likely to be injured by an auto/pedestrian accident than a golf cart. These stats come from official government web sites. So, if golf carts go--we need to get bicycles and skateboards off the streets as well.

— By Kathie Hayes on Oct. 12 at 12:12 PM

We have owned and safely operated (without a single close call) a licsened, insured and properly equiped golf cart for over six years on the west end of Galveston, we have under aged kids that are not allowed to drive this golf cart. We , the PARENTS own this golf cart and take full responsibility for it, we fill if the same laws that are intended for all other transportation are inforced on a regular basis this would not even be an issue that has required so much of everyone's time. There are just as many if not more incidents involving cars and trucks, so whats next ban vehicles from our city streets? It's time for parents to take charge of thier kids and do the right thing to protect themselnes and everyone of us concerned, these golf carts are harmless when used responsible, please do not punish the hundreds of good owners for a handful of bad ones.

— By JEFF DEBNER on Oct. 12 at 2:24 PM

I am a homeowner on the West End of Galveston Island. I have multiple sclerosis and a golf cart is the only way I can "walk" on the beach. Port Aransas, Texas has already begun to address the golf cart issue. You must have a permit from the city for the golf cart & one to have it at the beach. This is new revenue for the city & keeps cars off the road. There are restrictions on how far & how fast these vehicles can go. Port Aransas has a web site & have had their first reading for a new ordinance. Golf carts are not the "safety" issue but the people who drive them. Driving any vehicle is a privilege not a right. Electric golf carts can only go a certain distance & and a certain speed. Golf carts on the West End cut down on traffic & would actually be "safer" the automobiles.

— By SHANNON ABLE on Oct. 12 at 2:56 PM

I think all modes of transportation should be acceptable on roads. What's not acceptable is people using whatever mode of transportation irresponsibly. Any vehicle no matter what means of propulsion could be dangersous. Ticket the morons acting irresponsibly and leave the rest of us alone. Why should golf carts be singled out when motorcyles, scooters, bikes etc. can be just as dangerous if not more so?
The golf cart provides much leisurely pleasure for our family and is quiet and does not waste gas. We do not allow our children, 13 and 8 to drive at all.

— By Carolyn Givens on Oct. 12 at 3:07 PM

I have small children and have had several near misses with golfcarts almost hitting my children. I really feel they don't belong on the beach. There are designated parking areas. Motorized vehicles of any kind should stay in that area. To me, it's a "no-brainer".

— By Janis Walters on Oct. 12 at 3:13 PM

I live in the yacht basin and drive my state legal golf cart to the beach and the Strand, I buy a park permit for $25 and park at the beach, we need golf cart parking in the historic district, specialy on the Strand, one car parking space takes up as much room as three carts, I use it to take our visitors to the old homes to show off Galveston heritage. In the last 3 or 4 years I have watch and know of at least 8 fatality with motor cycles in and around our area during bike rally(I like motor cycles). No golf cart accident at that time. The enviro (green)freindly machine is very safe when the state and local laws are followed.

Please don't take another one of my rights away!

— By Rick Francis on Oct. 13 at 6:02 AM

I concur with the majority of comments. Golf carts, driven responsibly by a licensed driver, make more sense on the West End streets or beaches than a motorcycle or bicycle. The city has no plans to ban these, so why select golf carts to ban.
Statistics show that motorcycles and bicycles are more likely to be involved in an accident than golf carts.
If the police would enforce ticketing for illegal operation of golf carts, I suspect that the problems of golf carts would disappear.

— By Gail Choate on Oct. 13 at 9:18 AM

I think with all the stimulas money the city should give each of us a golf cart! They don't go as fast, are better for the enviroment, and don't cost as much money as our gas eating cars. If more of us drove our carts around the island there would be less pollution, slower moving vehicles, might even have less accidents. If the scooters can be on the street why not the carts.

— By kelli on Oct. 13 at 11:17 AM

Again, let me say that we all must be in tune with public safety. Chief Wiley(fox) is and should be concerned with our safety. However, easy fix. Ticket the parents of the underaged drivers...period. On the far west end (in the near country) golf cart transportation IS a way of life. As someone already said, "please Government, enough of our rights are already being taken away....leave the golf cart issue alone." I'll go a step further.....golf carts should be allowed on the beach....they are environmentally friendly, they do not hurt the beach, they reduce emissions 100%..etc. Oh, wait....some of the beachfront homeowners would have a private beach if carts were allowed....sorry, what was I thinking? Can someone give me something to believe about golf carts being bad for the beach? Anything?

— By Charles Winsor on Oct. 13 at 11:50 AM

Again, let me say that we all must be in tune with public safety. Chief Wiley(fox) is and should be concerned with our safety. However, easy fix. Ticket the parents of the underaged drivers...period. On the far west end (in the near country) golf cart transportation IS a way of life. As someone already said, "please Government, enough of our rights are already being taken away....leave the golf cart issue alone." I'll go a step further.....golf carts should be allowed on the beach....they are environmentally friendly, they do not hurt the beach, they reduce emissions 100%..etc. Oh, wait....some of the beachfront homeowners would NOT have a private beach if carts were allowed....sorry, what was I thinking? Can someone give me something to believe about golf carts being bad for the beach? Anything?

— By Charles Winsor on Oct. 13 at 11:52 AM

If you were to believe an earlier post from Janis Walters, youi would be led to believe that golf carts speed recklessly down the beach targeting young children. Preposterous!!!! It is a big wide open (well, not really "open") beach and to think that anyone would have one "near miss" let along "several" is just not believable. Remember, most golf carts cannot go over 15-20 mph. Where were you Ms. Walters when your children were almost hit by these golf carts? Do you own beach front property? Just asking!

— By Willa Nadalin on Oct. 13 at 1:09 PM

We are residents on West Galveston Island. We follow the discussions about golf carts on our public Texas beaches for a while. The new ruling of the Texas Dept. of Transportation, addressing the use of golf carts, effective 9/1/09, forces the two faced political approach of the past of our city leaders to the surface. Previously we heard from our elected officials as an excuse for trying to ban golf carts, that it is under order from Austin. This certainly is not true now!

The TXDot regulations specifically allow properly equipped golfcarts to be used in masterplanned communities (as most on the West Island are), also on public and private beaches, and also to cross intersections (such as FM 3005), where the posted speed limit is more than 35 mph. We suggest all interested parties to read the TXDoT regulations, they may find them to be more intelligently resonable, than some of the responses we read here.

Originally the island was developed by mainly beach front property, which - as limited as it is now- provided a very influential tax base for the city. Only later on some subdivisions extended north of FM 3005 and to the Bay. Just as an example: Bermuda Beach has practically nothing north of 3005 and possibly neither needs golf carts to get easily to the beach nor does want them in front of 'their beaches' which nevertheless still happen to be Texas public beaches.
The opposite applies for instance to Terramar Beach and many other developments in between. Terramar Beach: approx. 580 properties total of which are barely 10% on the beach. Here the bulk of property owners rely on golf carts, to go to their beaches, carrying fishing equipment, lounges umbrellas etc. to enjoy the beach as the few beach front owners do, without being confined to the few parking pockets, provided for car traffic.

It is time to concentrate on the real issues:
1) No, some beach front owners cannot practically reserve the public Texas beaches in front of their properties for themselves, reducing the access of others to a few pocket parking areas, designed for cars. But golf carts are the possibly environmentally most friendly vehicle, less accidents than byciles or pedestrians
2) When TXDoT left open certain safety discretions on roads (not beaches) to local authorities, some people, trying to fight golf carts off 'their beaches' now site the danger aspect. We have 3,382 fatal accident (2008) in Texas, 416 for pedestrians, 53 for byciclists..and how many for golf carts?
What really worries the police and property owners alike is the irresponsibility of a few parents, who allow some underage kids to drive golf carts without any experience how to handle any vehicle. Since they are few, but always the same people, let the police finally put a stop to it with some reasonable fines to the guilty parties, rather than the kind warnings, which will be disregarded anyway by them. (We don't close hiways to all because some offenders).

— By B.J. Linden on Oct. 13 at 8:39 PM

In today's (10-15) GDN Word on the Street, an article is written about golf carts. Above the article the paper states that readers are convinced that the City of Galveston has a plan to ban golf carts although it has announced no intention to do so. This issue came about because at the 9-17 Council meeting, the Chief of Police appeared before Council to ask about regulating carts and gave his opinion that they didn't belong on the streets. One of the Council members put forth a motion that an ordinance be written banning golf carts. The motion failed. Not all members were present at that time, and an agreement was made to revisit this issue at an Oct, meeting. That is what initiated the golf cart debate. As indicated by the response of the West End, golf carts are very important to us and we don't intend to sit quietly while our ability to use them is threatened. Hopefully, Council will agree and leave the legislation as written or even better, decide to let carts be used in even more areas.

I do not believe we have overreacted to this issue. I wrote the guest column in the GDN recently referring to the new legislation (HB2553) so that folks desiring to comment would have the facts. I also talked to the Senator's office and the State Reps. office that authored the bill so that I could fully understand it's intent. We have petitions and we have emailed and contacted all council members. Have we overreacted? I don't think so. I believe the threat of losing our carts is real.

No action is required by Council to continue to allow carts to be used in Master Planned Communities. The law also states that carts are allowed on public or private beaches, but the City of Galveston's beach access ordinance overrides that. HB1213 gives handicapped the ability to drive carts on the beach. I believe the City of Galveston is looking into the issue of driving carts on the beach. I would like to see that allowed as well. Apparently, the State of Texas has no problem with it. That's good enough for me.

— By Kathie Hayes on Oct. 15 at 10:03 AM

In my 6 years of living on the West End, I have seen countless kids, some as young as 6 or 7, driving golf carts on the streets and have repeatedly asked the police to follow them home and ticket the parents. Only one time did an officer follow through with my request and after the parents paid fines of nearly $1500 (unlicensed underaged driver, no slow moving vehicle sign, no registration and no proof of insurance), their children didn't drive the carts again.

Enforcement of existing laws is critical.

— By Wendy Majewski on Oct. 15 at 12:32 PM

There is a news article in the Saturday Wall Street Journal (online) that informs us that the Stimulus Bill passed earlier this year allows for a tax credit, possibly as much as $5K to purchase a golf cart. I looked up the Bill, and there it is on page 212. Yes, that's right! President Obama and your Congress want you driving these carts, Check it out.

— By Kathie Hayes on Oct. 19 at 6:55 AM