Peachtree City Golf Cart Drivers Win! Governor Vetoes Bill Requiring Driver's License

Governor Perdue Vetoes Senate Bill 519

Governor Perdue today (June 4) vetoed Senate Bill 519, legislation that would have had the unintended consequence of requiring drivers’ licenses for anyone operating a motorized cart. This requirement would have had a serious impact on communities such as Peachtree City, where cart paths are used by residents to do everything from going shopping, making a trip to the grocery story and performing other routine errands. Rep. Matt Ramsey and Sen. Ronnie Chance visited Governor Perdue to express their concerns over the bill.

“The unintended consequences of this legislation would have had a detrimental impact on the citizens of Peachtree City,” said Governor Perdue. “Thanks to Rep. Ramsey and Sen. Chance, we recognized the problems with the bill and asked the sponsors to come back next year with legislation without the language in question.”

The specific language is in Section 2 of the bill: “Operators of golf carts and landscape type vehicles must possess a valid driver’s license.” The intent of the bill was for that provision to apply to motorized carts used for companies distributing packages and other seasonal deliveries. The language, however, was not specific enough to only target those vehicles, and could have been applied to all carts, including golf carts.

“Senator Chance and I, on behalf of the citizens of Peachtree City, truly appreciate Governor Perdue hearing our concerns regarding the potential legal confusion that could have been created by SB 519 and its possible impact on Peachtree City’s long standing motorized cart ordinances,” said Rep. Ramsey.

The official veto message is below:

SB 519 changes certain rules regarding golf carts and other motorized carts.  The language of a late amendment to the bill, however, has the unintended effect of requiring every person who drives a golf cart to have a drivers’ license.  Although that consequence was not intended by the legislature, the language of the bill is plain and cannot be disregarded.  As our Supreme Court has recognized, plain statutory language is “the sole evidence of the ultimate legislative intent.”  Hollowell v. Jove, 247 Ga. 678, 681 (1981); see also I.N.S. v. Cardoza-Fonseca, 480 U.S. 421, 452-453 (1987) (Scalia, J., concurring) (“Where the language of [a law] is clear, we are not free to replace it with an unenacted legislative intent.”).  I have discussed the devastating impact this bill would have on communities with substantial investments in golf cart paths such as Peachtree City with Rep. Matt Ramsey and Sen. Ronnie Chance.  I support the original intent of the bill and encourage legislators to revisit the issue next session without the language in question, and so I VETO SB 519.


-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Wyndham Peachtree Hosts Golf Drive-In Movie Night

The Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center will host the city’s first golf cart drive-in movie night on July 5 featuring the live-action movie, Transformers.

Children’s activities will begin at 7 p.m., and the movie will begin 10 minutes after sunset at approximately 9:05 p.m. Cost for admission is $5 per person or $15 for a four-person golf cart. Admission includes one free popcorn. No outside food or drinks are permitted. A bar and concessions will offer refreshments. For those without golf carts, there will be an area for chairs.

The hotel’s grounds, situated on 19 wooded acres adjacent to the Flatcreek Golf Club, offer Peachtree residents more than 100 miles of paved paths for leisurely golf cart riding and for the first time, movie viewing.

“With the increasing price of fuel, we wanted to provide the community with a fun and inexpensive family event this summer,” said Jessica Cannon, Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center director of sales.

The event, which will be sponsored by Webb, Lindsey and Wade; Cookies by Design; Jumping Jelly Beans; and Rudjard Hayes for District Attorney, will be the first of five outdoor movie events to be held at the hotel. Subsequent movie dates are July 26 and Aug. 9, 16 and 30. Remaining movie titles will be announced at a future date.

In conjunction with the inaugural movie night, the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center will host a pool party July 5 featuring music, an outdoor barbecue, horseshoe tournament and children’s activities. Admission is $5 per person.

Overnight hotel packages are also available for $129 for a family of four. The package includes guest room accommodations; reserved seating for the Peachtree City fireworks show; breakfast in the Terrace Restaurant; and admission to the pool party and golf cart drive-in movie. For more information, call (770) 487-2000, (800) WYNDHAM, or visit www.wyndham.com.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

Golf Carts Dangerous? Seriously---

FL Note: Before you laugh out loud, read the story. Those of us who live the golf cart life in Peachtree City know of the dangers. Just last week, I happened upon an accident involving two golf carts. One was driven by a teenage girl who was going too fast down a hill, couldn't stop, and plowed into the bridge crossing Flat Creek. The other golf cart, driven by an old man, was ok. Her golf cart? Well, let's just say her father probably wasn't real happy when he got there to see the broken cart that had to be towed. Tis hard to drive a cart when its two front wheels are facing each other.

Golf Cart Injuries Increasing

Who ever heard of a golf cart crash? Apparently there are enough of them that they have become a concern. In fact, golf carts are becoming a popular means of transportation away from golf courses,......

Read the story.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

Golf Cart Safety Especially Important In Busy Summer Months

Now that school is out, Peachtree City’s paths are seeing more use than ever. Peachtree City Public Information Officer Betsy Tyler is reminding golf cart owners of the rules of the path for Peachtree City's signature vehicle.

Tyler said, “Golf carts are a way of life in Peachtree City, and they are certainly a lot of fun. However, cart owners and operators need to remember that these vehicles share the paths with pedestrians and bicyclists, and can cause serious injuries if drivers are not careful.”

Peachtree City has several rules to help keep all path users safe:
• All passengers of a golf cart must remain seated while the cart is in motion – it is very easy to throw a standing passenger from a cart by suddenly starting or stopping the vehicle, or hitting a bump in the path or street.
• No one may sit in the driver’s lap while the cart is in motion – children could become crushed between the driver and the steering wheel in an accident.
• Young children should sit flat in the seat and wear safety helmets to avoid injury from falling or being thrown from the cart.
• All operators must abide by all traffic regulations applicable to vehicular traffic.
• Golf cart drivers should slow down when approaching other path users, curves, and intersections.
• Golf cart drivers should use caution when crossing any street or driveway, stopping the cart if an auto is approaching.
• Golf cart drivers are required to use a horn or other audible signal when approaching pedestrians from behind -- electric carts are very quiet and can injure pedestrians.
• Where cart paths exist they must be used instead of parallel city streets (excluding private golf course paths).
• Carts driven at night must be equipped with functional headlights and tail lights.
• Carts are not allowed on or across Hwy 54, Hwy 74, Peachtree Pkwy, or Crosstown Road except at authorized crossings.

Tyler added, “Drivers need to pay attention and use caution at all times because owners can be held both criminally and civilly liable for injuries caused by their carts.”

The City also strongly encourages golf cart owners to obtain separate liability insurance. Tyler said homeowner policies often do not cover carts taken off property, making accidents especially expensive.

Another potential cost to cart owners can come from allowing under-age drivers to operate carts.

In Peachtree City, golf carts may only be driven by:
• Those 16 and over, whether or not they have a license (unless license has been suspended or revoked)
• 15-year olds with a valid learners permit may drive alone, or if unaccompanied by a parent/grandparent, or person 18 or older, they may drive accompanied by up to one other person who must be at least 15 years old, or may be accompanied by up to 3 immediate family members.
• 15-years old with NO learners permit must be accompanied in the front seat by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or a person age 18 or older with a valid drivers license.
• Children age 12, 13 & 14 must be accompanied in the front seat by a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian.
• No person under 12 years of age may drive a cart.

Tyler reminds residents that fines for under-age drivers are very steep, ranging from $350 for a first offense to $1,321 and loss of registration for a third offense within two years. Tyler said, “Violations on a golf cart can also affect a teenager’s ability to obtain a drivers license.”

Tyler said, "Using caution on the paths and following the rules will help every to have a safe and fun summer."

The City posts complete path rules on its web site, www.peachtree-city.org, and on the street and path map available for purchase at City Hall.