Friday, March 19, 2004
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Friday, March 19, 2004 |
| Golf cart bill lacks governor’s signature; may be a while By JOHN MUNFORD A bill that would nix the driver’s license requirements for golf cart drivers still hasn’t been signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue. Technically, the governor has until 40 days after the legislative session ends to sign the bills, said his press secretary, Loretta Lepore. Perdue will take care of the legislation he has made a priority by authoring and then he will handle other bills for signing as needed. “He likes to go through each one ... and ask any questions and make sure everything is in order” before signing the bill, Lepore said. Last year, after hearing an appeal from a golf cart driver convicted of driving with a suspended license, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that Georgia law requires golf cart drivers to have driver’s licenses, even on the city’s cart path system. That contrasted with the city’s golf cart ordinance which allowed the solo operation of golf carts by any 15-year-old with a learner’s permit and the supervised operation of golf carts by children ages 12-14. Some senior citizens who had let their driver’s license expire since their golf cart served as their sole mode of transportation are also in violation of the current law ... if they drive on the cart paths or city streets. After the court’s ruling, however, it was determined golf cart drivers who don’t have a state driver’s license would be in violation of the state law. Although the city has publicly said it would enforce the state law on the golf cart paths, the city council did not change its golf cart ordinance. Once the bill is signed by Gov. Perdue the city likely won’t need to change any part of its golf cart ordinance, said City Attorney Ted Meeker. The council may choose to re-adopt the ordinance to reaffirm its validity in light of the new state law, however, Meeker said. There is also a chance that the city council may want to make some changes to the ordinance or that the police department or city staff will recommend some changes, Meeker added.
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