Kandi Coco LSV on Display at Sam's Club Villages
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PRLog -- If you own a golf cart in The Villages you might want to invest in a speed odometer or a GPS device that can tell you how fast you are actually going. Especially in Sumter County where the Sherriff’s Department has been making an example out of few drivers speeding over the 20 mph speed limit in golf carts issuing a court required appearance criminal offense for “Failure to Register a Motor Vehicle”. Because a golf cart is actually considered an all terrain vehicle (ATV) the law does not permit them to go faster than 20 mph max. By surpassing the speed limit you are essentially using your golf cart as a motor vehicle therefore would need a registration and a tag plate. This can be a serious offense and you will need to fix your cart so it cannot exceed the legal speed. Your golf cart is considered unlawful if it has the capability of exceeding the posted speed unlike a motor vehicle where you can just take you foot of the accelerator and slow down. Some golf cart dealers claim that people have been coming in asking to have their golf carts slowed down rather than sped up. Golf cart repair companies and even local mobile repair guys could be held liable for carts that have been modified to exceed the speed limit. It’s a privilege in The Villages for golf carts to drive on the roads along side with vehicular traffic considering golf carts do not need seat belts and only come with rear brakes. I went along for a little ride in a golf cart as a passenger and I can say riding in a cart at 20 mph actually takes a conscience effort to hold on to remain in the seat on turns and curves. But this did not stop several other carts from zipping around us passing in the roadway out of the cart path to get around us like a car headed for the finish line in a race. As The Villages grows and technology advances the carts are getting more powerful and the problem of speeding becomes an issue.
On the other hand there is an alternative transportation that is fairly new and allows the freedom of speed in a so called golf cart. These Low Speed Vehicles (LSV) and also called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) are permitted on the streets and the golf courses (with approved tires and weight restrictions)
. These street legal machines allow you to go much faster than a golf cart but also come equipped with seat belts, DOT approved windshields, horn, turn signals and lights. Owners are required to insure and register it just like a car but have the freedom to use it like one. I had the opportunity to speak with Tony Colangelo the Owner of Villages Golf Cart Man a local golf cart dealer that specializes in Street Legal Golf Carts he explains, “an LSV can be driven on any road with a speed limit of 35mph and can cross any highway as long as it’s at an intersection. It’s no wonder why the State prefers this type of transportation. It creates revenue for the state and local counties and the drivers are insured.” I was able to test drive a few of the different models they offered and was really impressed with the speed and also very surprised by how just registering and insuring a cart can allow so much more freedom and speed legally than just a regular golf cart. The Golf Cart Man added “at least if you get caught speeding in one of these all you get is a regular speeding ticket.” You can visit their web site at
http://www.VillagesGolfCartMan.com for a large line of street legal and regular golf carts. They also offer rentals and service for golf carts and LSV as well as accessories and parts. After speaking with Tony I had more info than I could really put in this story. He was very informational and seemed quite knowledgeable with the whole picture of golf carts and laws pertaining to LSV’s.
In retrospect all people must share the road and what you drive will determine how fast you can go. So choose your ride with your intentions in mind. If you speed in a golf cart you might want to trade it in for a Street Legal one…. or else..
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