Bill might prohibit golf cart use in cities

Ever think of driving a golf cart into a city? A new law could make it illegal in Indiana.
Indiana is in the process of passing a law that could prohibit the use of golf carts on city roads.

Junior Robert Barnell said he thinks there must be a reason for its existence.
“There must be some situation that brought it forward,” Barnell said.

Sen. Mike Delph, the author of the bill, said the idea originally came to him when he was camping with his wife and five children at Brown Country State Park.

Some elderly visitors to the park were interested in using a golf cart to go around the park, and they asked him if it would be possible.

“When I researched it, it turned out that many communities had ordinances against the driving of golf carts, but because there wasn’t a law giving the communities power to ban golf carts, the ordinances the towns had were in fact illegal and could not be enforced,” Delph said. “I would call this kind of bill we are trying to pass a ‘home-rule bill,’ a bill giving power to the local government so they would be able to make their own decision on the issue.”

Delph said the fate of the bill has not been decided yet, but if passed, the bill would allow disabled people or those 65 years and older to use golf carts in the state parks and recreation areas.

The bill would also allow cities like Indianapolis to pass ordinances limiting the use of golf carts so people are not using them in rush-hour traffic.

Senior Adrienne Thiery said though there might be a reason, it doesn’t mean the bill isn’t entertaining.

“At the surface, some laws seem really silly,” Thiery said. “But there’s always a reason for something in law, even if you don’t realize it at first.”