Wednesday, January 14, 2004
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Wednesday, January 14, 2004 |
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Golf cart legislation on fast track; passage expected soon By J. FRANK LYNCH As pledged last summer, legislation to allow unlicensed drivers to operate golf carts throughout Peachtree City was introduced with the start of the General Assembly on Monday and is already on a fast track to approval, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland said. “It has been assigned to committee,” said Westmoreland of the change in state code he and Sen. Mitch Seabaugh “pre-introduced” last week. Westmoreland said the proposal had “first read” and was assigned to committee on Monday, the opening day of the 40-day session. The language of the bill, endorsed by the Peachtree City Council in the fall and written with the advice of the city attorney, applies to any Georgia municipality, Westmoreland said. “We’re changing the definition of what a roadway is and a golf cart is, statewide,” said the Republican from Sharpsburg. “That will allow cities and counties to develop their own fees or rules of the road as they apply to operating golf carts on public streets.” “All we’re doing is giving cities the authority to establish their own rules on this,” Westmoreland said. But clearly, the bill is meant to pave the way for Peachtree City to again grant cart privileges to two groups: Under-16 teens and senior citizens without licenses. Both were left stranded last spring when a court ruled the city’s policy on unlicensed cart drivers was illegal, abruptly ending a popular perk in the community. Mayor Steve Brown was confident the law would move through the process with ease, saying he knew of no opposition from any corner. “We’re anticipating that it’s going to go smoothly, mainly because there’s nothing controversial about it,” said Brown. “We’re just wanting to continue what we’ve been doing for 30 years.” Brown said Florida already has similar laws relating to golf carts, so what Peachtree City is asking for isn’t unprecedented. “We wouldn’t be the first state to do this,” he said. Brown said he had discussed the issue with Gov. Sonny Perdue’s staff and got assurances he would sign the bill once it came across his desk. Though the legislation does have statewide impact, the bill won’t have to wait until July 1 to become law as is usually the case, Westmoreland said. “Written into the bill is language that would make it effective as soon as the governor puts his signature to it,” he said. Westmoreland wouldn’t speculate how quickly that might be, but noted that both houses of the General Assembly and the governor will be embroiled in budget debates starting today, when Gov. Perdue presents his “State of the State” address and budget plan for 2005.
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