Wednesday, July 9, 2003

It has come to my attention that local citizens of Peachtree City are not allowed to operate a golf cart unless they are licensed drivers. I myself am at the age of 14 where I enjoy driving to stores or just plain driving around with parental supervision. I enjoy being able to go out and drive the golf cart with my mom, dad, and even the whole family.

Now because of this new law, based on one person's mistake, the whole community is being penalized for that one person's action. Teenagers like myself have lost the privilege of being able to drive to school so their parents do have to be worrying about how their child doesn't have a way home.

Also elderly citizens who have decided not to get their license anymore have lost their privilege of driving a golf cart too.

In my opinion the state government should go back to their previous law which allows younger teens to drive a golf cart with parental supervision and also let citizens operate a golf cart alone if they are 15 years of age with the proper driving permit.

Peachtree City has a diversity of races and cultures which may not be licensed drivers; that is why the need of a golf cart to them is so important because it is their means of transportation to work.

If the state of Georgia agrees to go on with the new law, it will be depriving citizens their only means of transportation to work. In my opinion the government of Georgia should rethink the new law carefully and put themselves in their citizens' shoes, to know how a golf cart is an important aspect of their daily lives.

Thalia Rivas

Peachtree City, Ga.