Similar regulations were approved recently in Huber Heights and Troy.
State law prohibits any golf carts on streets with speed limit posted over 35 mph, but the Tipp City council could set the speed limit lower, such as 25 mph.
Tipp City Police Chief Eric Burris and city Law Director Jonathan Freeman told council Feb. 4 both Troy to the north and Huber Heights to the south set the speed limit on streets of 25 mph.
In Huber Heights, three golf carts have been inspected by police since the ordinance was approved last year.
“We have received no complaints of traffic violations/ordinance violations involving golf carts. I think I would be accurate in saying, most golf cart owners (including myself) utilize their golf carts at permanent camping sites outside the City,” said Huber Heights Police Chief Mark Lightner.
He said it is difficult for residents in Huber Heights to travel to local restaurants and businesses in a golf cart without traveling on a 35 mph street, which is not allowed by the ordinance.
In Troy, one golf cart has been registered and the police department has reported no issues with the carts on roads, said Police Chief Charles Phelps.
In Tipp City today, “Any golf cart you see on the street now is illegal,” Burris said.
The state a couple of years ago defined an under-speed vehicle, including a golf cart, as a three or four wheeled vehicle. The Ohio Revised Code prohibits use of the golf carts on any street posted over 35 mph and allows them only where the local government has approved their use.
State law also requires communities allowing golf carts on streets to have police inspect the vehicle. The vehicles also must be registered and licensed.
Burris said if council wants to allow the golf carts, he would suggest requiring operators to be licensed drivers, requiring insurance on the vehicle, prohibiting golf carts on sidewalks and limiting them to streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less.
Carts would be required to have working headlights, a horn, turn signals, two license plates and seat belts/child restraints, among other features.
The police department would send an officer to the residence of a golf cart owner to conduct the inspection, Burris said.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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