[RobRich]

I have been hearing about this on local radio, and would ya' believe it, the ads tend to target same community mentioned in the article: The Villages.

Quote:

The Villages is a golf cart community, with special transportation trails built for golf carts. The development includes more than forty recreation centers, over twenty executive golf courses, eight championship golf courses with country clubs, a golf academy, a polo field, three fitness centers, a woodworking shop and community garden, an archery range, and two libraries.

A golf cart overpass was built across US 27/US 441 in the center of The Villages to connect the original neighborhood to new areas because a tunnel could not be constructed to provide safe passage across this major highway. Tunnels serve this purpose throughout the rest of the community where a highway must be crossed.

Source: The Villages, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Golf carts are street legal in The Villages, which is governed as a Community Development District, so some things work a little differently there. I suppose it would make sense why a golf cart could technically be considered a vehicle, as much of the businesses and community infrastructure are within a few blocks of the residential areas. However, technical and practical can be two different things.

I am not really inclined to give golf cart owners a tax incentive. Golf carts do not have to meet similar safety standards as cars despite being legal to drive on public roads in some areas. A car has to meet certain DOT equipment and safety guidelines for road use regardless if it is driven at 5MPH or 75MPH.

Whatever standards are required for golf carts seem to be minimal at best, which can be kind of scary for all parties involved if you have ever experienced driving a car amongst a bunch of golf carts. I have driven in the The Villages, along with other golf cart communities around Florida. It is no thrill, especially if the driver of a sluggish golf cart decides to cut you off or otherwise ignore regular vehicle traffic.