Spurred by a citizen’s request, the Peachtree City Council has divested its ordinances of an onerous rule that technically made lawbreakers out of some rather docile citizens.

The old rule forbid low speed motor vehicles, otherwise known as LSMVs, from being used on streets with a speed limit greater than 35 mph except for marked street crossings typically associated with the city’s cart path system.

That meant that, for example, LSMVs couldn’t even cross streets such as Peachtree Parkway to get from one legal street to another.

In October, resident Glen Allen asked council to look at the matter. The problem, he said, is it often forces LSMV drivers to go the long way around instead of taking a more direct convenient route.

Last week in response to Allen’s concerns council amended the ordinance to allow LSMVs to cross streets with higher speed limits.

The change brings the city’s ordinance in line with state laws on LSMVs, officials said.

LSMVs are typically about the size of golf carts, although they have more safety features, including seat belts and turn signals. They can also operate faster than regular golf carts.

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizen.com

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