PTC golf cart tally: 7,500+

Fri, 11/24/2006 - 9:40am
By: John Munford

With the official registration period over, Peachtree CIty has tallied more than 7,500 golf carts which have been minted with the city’s new yellow decals, according to city spokesperson Betsy Tyler.

That number is about 1,000 carts short of the city’s estimate when the program began. Under the old system, the city handed out more than 12,000 decals but part of the difference at least is due to residents purchasing new golf carts to replace their older model, as doing so required a brand-new decal.

Peachtree City police are now enforcing the new decal system, meaning carts without the yellow sticker are subject to a ticket with an $80 fine for driving an improperly registered cart.

Compared to that fine, it’s cheaper to spend the $12 fee to register the cart properly. The decals are good for five years.

The city is seeing about five new cart registrations a day now, with some for new carts and others for golf carts that aren’t used often.

The City Council decided to implement the new registration system to keep a more accurate listing of who owns which carts. Such information is necessary when investigating path violations and other related crimes such as golf cart theft, police said.

The city’s previous database of registered golf cart owners often had outdated information that would stymie police conducting an investigation, according to Police Chief James Murray.

If the program has any profit above the costs of mailing and handling the permits, the extra money will be earmarked for improvements to the cart path system.

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Submitted by swmbo on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 11:05pm.

Can't get the italics to shut off.

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If you and I are always in agreement, one of us is likely armed and dangerous.

secret squirrel's picture
Submitted by secret squirrel on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 9:01am.

The city’s previous database of registered golf cart owners often had outdated information that would stymie police conducting an investigation, according to Police Chief James Murray.

Of course, having your cart's rain gear down can also do this. I've often wondered what having such a law meant during these months in which many carts have their decals- correctly placed decals- obscured by rain gear.

Of course, common sense long went away when rather than just ticketing and fining anyone with an improperly or unregistered cart, PTC decided to make EVERYONE pay for a new one. Where was the thinking to keep track of this information when the cart tag decision was made so many years ago? Nothing like a governmental knee-jerk overreaction to correct a governmental brain-fart underreaction, eh?


Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 1:38pm.

The path rules are never, never enforced anyway....who cares?? The satanic kids know all they have to do is put the rain cover on and they will never be caught. Same goes for the people dumping yard trash behind Morallion Hills.... I could see the use for decals if the paths were patrolled....but they aren't and everyone knows it. Do whatever you want to ....you will never be caught....as long as the crime you commit is on the paths.

secret squirrel's picture
Submitted by secret squirrel on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 1:50pm.

Well, the main enforcement mechanism for cart path rules was never intended to be the police. The use of cart decals is for decent and respectful citizens to report dangerous activities of those who act like fools on the paths. That's how most of the incidents are reported. That's why the decal system was developed.


Submitted by swmbo on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 8:40pm.

Turning off the italics. No excitement here.

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If you and I are always in agreement, one of us is likely armed and dangerous.

secret squirrel's picture
Submitted by secret squirrel on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 1:28pm.

The italics are not expressions of excitement. They are citations of material posted by another poster.

[ cite ] [ /cite ]

Give it a try (but with the appropriate HTML formatting).

Glad to help.


Submitted by dollaradayandfound on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 9:54am.

In order to fairly issue tickets to golf carts, the paths would have to be patrolled occasionally. Before that can be done however, the paths will have to be repaired and widened.
Be good to see at least one path block some day, wouldn't it? Say in the late afternoon, or after dark.
Kinda like patrolling y-not just after closing.

secret squirrel's picture
Submitted by secret squirrel on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 11:08am.

Be good to see at least one path block some day, wouldn't it? Say in the late afternoon, or after dark.
Kinda like patrolling y-not just after closing.

I can't tell if you're intentionally attempting humor or if it's just a side-effect from making such a silly comment.

First, PTCPD patrols the Partners/Y-Knot parking lot routinely. Second, I love all the attention the Y-Knot gets around here; usually from people that have never set foot in the place or at least lack the fortitude to do so before criticizing it. The fact is that the two most serious cart-related incidents in PTC's history happened away from the Partners/Y-Knot area and both had no connection whatsoever to that area.

Rather than get this thread off into some mindless drivel about the evil Y-Knot, the focus should be on how people are supposed to report the numerous daily instances of young(er) cart drivers operating recklessly when their rain gear is down. Chief Murray says the old system of failing to keep track of cart registrations impaired investigations. I wonder how unseen cart decals will impact that. It's unaddressed.


Submitted by IMNSHO on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 9:59am.

paths would have to be patrolled occasionally

They are. And while patrol cars *can* drive on the cartpaths, they try not to unless it is absolutely necessary. However, the PCPD does have a "mule" and bicycles, both of which have been used to patrol the paths. The main thing that is needed, before anything else, is MORE officers.

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