Golf Carts a way of life in Retirement Community

Sun City Center Inspects, Registers Fleet Of Golf Carts

By STEVE KORNACKI
The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 27, 2008

SUN CITY CENTER - Traveling the streets of this retirement community near Manatee County is unlike driving anywhere else in the area. There are golf carts on the main roads, parked at the Winn-Dixie and sometimes even accidentally merging onto nearby Interstate 75. Hillsborough County sheriff's Deputy Rob Thornton says it's the only city in the county where electric and motorized carts are allowed to drive anywhere cars and trucks go during daylight hours.
"I love it," said Dick Follin, 69. "I go to the store and the bank with it -- everywhere in town -- and with fuel prices what they are, this is really nice."

Follin was among more than 500 people who had their carts inspected and registered Wednesday in the parking lot of Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Almost 1,700 carts were inspected during the three-day event, which was organized by the Sun City Center Security Patrol, assisted by the sheriff's office and civic organizations.

"The inspections are important," Thornton said. "But the big thing is the registration. Many of the carts look alike, and people don't realize that one key might be able to actually start any cart. People accidentally take off in the wrong carts. We also had 16 stolen last year. These registrations enable us to get the carts back to their proper owners."

He said The Villages, south of Ocala, is the only other place he knows of in Florida where state statute 316.2125 is in effect. Under that statute, municipalities can approve the driving of golf carts on regular roads - which Sun City Center did about 20 years ago.
More than 4,000 golf carts are registered in the community, which has a population of about 19,000.

"It's a good system and a good way to get around," said Richard Grant, 73. "I've driven a motorcycle for 57 years and that helps. You have to be real careful with the older people driving these carts around town. Some of them don't pay attention that well."

Like the person who drove a cart southbound in the northbound lanes of I-75, or the man with dementia who nearly made it to Apollo Beach on U.S. 41 in a golf cart. Thornton said accidents were avoided in both instances.

Carts can't enter highways and must cross busy State Road 674 at three designated intersections: Valley Forge-Kings Boulevard, Lake Towers Drive or Pebble Beach Boulevard.
Neither a driver's license nor insurance are required to drive a cart, but Thornton said both are encouraged. Carts must have rear-view mirrors, reflective warning devices front and back and adequate brakes and tires. Those items were checked Wednesday as well as horns, lights, turn signals and an understanding of proper hand signals. Carts also were checked to see they don't surpass the allowed 19 mph.

Vivian Kann, 72, informed Thornton that she didn't have a horn on her golf cart.
"Can you yell real loud?" he asked her. "Ahh," she said, laughing and waving him off. "They can't hear anything anyway."

Golf cart inspections and registrations can be arranged by calling Sun City Center Security Patrol at (813) 642-2020.

Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at (813) 731-8170 or skornacki@tampatrib.com.

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