Golf Carts In Trussville: Police Cracking Down

TRUSSVILLE, AL — What may seem like a harmless way to zip around the neighborhood is actually illegal, according to Trussville police. Golf carts used to ride around Trussville's neighborhoods have become a problem, police say.

The increasing popularity of the vehicles lately has prompted a statement from Trussville police chief Eric Rush reminding residents of the guidelines surrounding golf carts and similar vehicles.

"Due to the increase, we are also receiving more and more complaints about golf carts," Rush said in a statement Wednesday. "The complaints range from reckless driving, near-miss accidents with other vehicles, kids operating golf carts, and infants or small children riding on them, unrestrained."

Although some golf carts manufactured today are considered street legal, police say carts they see used in Trussville's streets are not legal to be operated on a public street and it is becoming a safety issue.

"We have had two horrible accidents in the past that are relative to this issue; one involving a golf cart that flipped and the other involving a side by side UTV that flipped," Rush said. "The likelihood of being seriously injured or killed in an accident involving a golf cart is far greater than in any car. I do not want anything like that to happen again, PERIOD."

Rush said he is directing his officers to take enforcement actions against unlawful golf cart drivers in the city, ranging from a citation to a fine in excess of $200.

"Any golf carts that are being operated by a child under the age of 16 will have to be picked up by a parent or impoundment may be necessary," Rush said.

Rush said if a golf cart does not meet the federal requirements, it will not have the certification label and is not able to be registered in the state of Alabama. Therefore, it will not have the required license plate to be operated on public streets.

"I have had discussions in the recent past about adopting an ordinance that would allow golf carts to be operated in certain residential areas of the city," Rush said. "Those discussions ended when it was determined that the proposed city ordinance would have contradicted state law. I sincerely hope this situation will be taken seriously by the citizens of Trussville and that the issue with the safety of our community will prevail over any perceived convenience that golf carts may afford."