The use of golf carts on Anna Maria Island streets is not new.
But complaints to officials in all three island cities about vacationers’ irregular use of low-speed vehicles have been on the rise in recent months.
So, Holmes Beach Commissioner Jayne Christenson used the opportunity of a Sept. 15 quarterly meeting of barrier island elected officials to present some of her research and brainstorm solutions.
A golf cart, as defined by Florida statute, is a motor vehicle designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 mph.
The statutes allow the vehicles to be operated on roadways with speed limits of 30 mph or less that have been designated for golf carts. Golf carts are not titled or registered and are not required to be insured.
However, golf carts must be converted to be street-legal, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles requirements. Once converted, the modified golf cart falls into the category of a low-speed vehicle and must have a state-assigned vehicle identification number, as well as registration and tag, to be operated on roadways with speed limits of 35 mph or less.
And, because they are street-legal vehicles, low-speed vehicles must have seat belts for all passengers and children who require a child safety seat in a traditional motor vehicle must use them in the LSV.
Additionally, operators of LSVs must be licensed to drive in the United States and the number of passengers cannot exceed the number of seats and seat belts — just like in a traditional motor vehicle.
“All of the rental golf carts are low-speed vehicles,” Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said during the meeting of the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials at Anna Maria City Hall.
The chief said a golf cart without a tag, or license plate, in Holmes Beach is usually operated by a resident who abides by the rules, including the city ordinance stating such vehicles can be operated only in city limits on roadways with speed limits of 25 mph or less and may not be driven to either Anna Maria or Bradenton Beach, as those cities prohibit the use of golf carts.
Collecting complaints
The complaints elected officials have fielded in recent months deal with the operation of the LSVs — operators who fail to adhere to the law — including:
- Operators who appear to be younger than the legal licensing age of 16;
- Operators driving slower than posted speed limits, backing up traffic;
- Operators driving in bike lanes or on sidewalks;
- Operators on roadways where it is illegal to drive a low-speed vehicle;
- Overcrowded vehicles, with people sitting on each other’s laps and young children held on laps rather than in child seats.
In August, Manatee County sheriff’s deputies, who provide law enforcement in Anna Maria, issued 15 citations, 28 verbal warnings and nine written warnings to LSV operators for improper or lack of child restraint, MCSO Sgt. Brett Getman told The Islander Sept. 15.
Christenson said rental agencies that provide people with misleading and incorrect information contribute to the problem on the island.
She spoke of an unnamed business that posted incorrect information on its website to a FAQ page. To one posted question, “Can I drive a cart over the Manatee Ave. bridge?” the agency replied, “Yes, but only the part where the speed limit is 35 mph or less.”
Christenson said the agency’s answer to a similar question about the Cortez Bridge also was “yes,” but the reply is incorrect. It is not legal to operate a golf cart on either the Cortez or Anna Maria Island bridges, she said.
Anna Maria resident Ruth Cawein, addressing the officials at the meeting, said another concern is road rage.
Cawein said she was run off the road by another driver impatient with the slow speed of traffic traveling behind a low-speed vehicle.
Anna Maria resident Tripp Sebring, also at the meeting, said he too has witnessed road rage incidents involving LSVs.
What can be done?
Bringing rental business owners into the mix and seeking input when working out solutions should make it easier to get cooperation and compliance, Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek said.
That’s happening in Anna Maria, where Mayor Dan Murphy met in August with owners of three rental agencies to brainstorm solutions and came up with an idea to require a decal to be affixed to the rental vehicles with the main rules that apply to the use of the LSVs.
The 300 decals have the symbols for the MCSO, which provides law enforcement services in Anna Maria, and Anna Maria code and parking enforcement.
They state:
- Only licensed drivers may operate this vehicle;
- All passengers must wear seat belts;
- Children 5 and under in a child restraint device;
- Do not exceed seating capacity of this vehicle.
“Mayor what you guys have developed here is excellent,” Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said.
“I also love your sticker … and we’ll probably copy it for Holmes Beach,” Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth added.
Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter suggested an additional tactic for the cities — monitoring social media for inaccurate information and responding with facts and advice.
By the end of the session, the island officials hadn’t found a silver bullet solution but had agreed the matter requires an islandwide effort to educate operators.
About the coalition
The BIEO coalition does not vote or set policy but instead serves as a forum for elected officials from Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Longboat Key to discuss issues and share ideas.
The next meeting was not set as The Islander went to press Sept. 20.