New Rules Of The Dearborn County Roads For Golf Carts

By Mike Perleberg (Dearborn County, Ind.) – Folks driving golf carts on roads in unincorporated areas of Dearborn County are being given a smaller share of the road. Dearborn County Commissioners voted 2-0 on November 4 to pass an ordinance amending the county’s traffic rules regarding golf carts. Commissioners Shane McHenry and Art Little voted to pass. Kevin Lynch was absent from the meeting. “Over the past few years, golf carts have become a more common mode of transportation especially for senior citizens and people with mobility issues.  I am an advocate for golf carts and think it's a great way for those people to stay in touch with their neighbors and communities,” says Dearborn County Commissioner Shane McHenry. “The ordinance was passed to put rules into place to ensure that golf carts are being operated safely and safety measures are followed.” The ordinance only affects golf carts in use on county roads. Many of Dearborn County’s cities and towns already have their own golf cart ordinances on the books. The language passed by county commissioners limits golf cart usage to subdivisions where the speed limit is 25 MPH or less and only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The new ordinance also expands the number of roads on which off-road vehicle use will be prohibited due to regular vehicle traffic and other factors. Previously, the county only banned ORVs from Stateline Road, Jamison Road, and North Dearborn Road east of State Road 1. The list now includes Georgetown Road, Bond Road, Sand Run Road, Cole Lane, Whites Hill Road, Harrison-Brookville Road, Salt Fork Road, Jackson Ridge Road, Pribble Road, and Wilson Creek Road. Off-road vehicles can cross those roads at a 90 degree angle. It will also cost some money to register your golf cart with the county. Each cart used on a roadway must be registered with the Dearborn County Highway Department for an annual fee of $50. A registration sticker has to be placed on the rear side of the cart. Other changes in the amended county ordinance: Golf cart operators on a subdivision road must hold a valid driver’s license. The golf cart must be insured and registered. The golf cart must be equipped with head lights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, and a slow-moving vehicle placard. Only as many riders as a golf cart was intended to transport can ride on a subdivision road. Violators of the ordinance will face a fine of up to $25 for a first time offense. The penalty increase to up to $500 for each subsequent infraction. A third violation could have the golf cart’s registration revoked and made non-renewable for one year. The new rules will go into effect 30 days from the ordinance’s date of passage. Commissioners will take public comment on an amendment to the ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday, November 17.