The Bartholomew County commissioners are preparing to draft an ordinance regulating how UTVs (utility task vehicle) and/or golf carts may be operated in the county’s jurisdiction.
If the commissioners continue to pursue this, it is with the understanding it would only apply to UTVs on county roads and golf carts on subdivision streets in unincorporated areas of the county, not the city of Columbus. These types of vehicles would not be allowed on state highways.
That being said, this is quite dangerous territory.
Currently, UTVs and golf carts are prohibited on public roads in the county. Under Indiana law, these types of vehicle are not permitted on county or city roads unless a local community passes an allowance that explicitly allows it.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says Bartholomew County is one of eight counties that doesn’t allow off-road vehicles in its jurisdiction.
There’s really good reasoning for that.
UTVs, and golf carts, offer little protection for occupants if struck by a car, truck, semi, etc.
If you’ve ever wandered by a serious motor vehicle accident and pondered how someone survived a collision, imagine if one of the vehicles had no side doors, no one was wearing seat belts and the top was a canopy of some sort. There are arguments at UTVs have a steel cage over the top, but still, even with a roll cage, a high-speed collision would be catastrophic.
As the commissioners and county law enforcement continue to look into whether this is a good idea, here are our suggestions for what should be included, and enforced, in any new ordinance.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Chris Lane told reporter Andy East that the most often heard complaint he hears is about children being allowed to drive golf carts and UTVs. The ordinance needs to be clear on this. Only licensed drivers should be behind the wheel. We know, Grandpa and Grandma, it’s fun to have little 10-year-old Timmy learn to drive a golf cart. The point is, it should never happen on a public roadway, or city street, or the People Trail.
Alcohol laws applying to licensed drivers should apply to golf cart and UTV drivers. And no warnings. Straight to jail after a blood-alcohol test over the limit. And anyone driving one of these vehicles should be required to have their license on them to show to law enforcement proving their identity and age.
If UTVs and golf carts are going on public roads, they should be registered as required by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Golf carts do not have to have plates now, but perhaps they should. It’s a method of identification, particularly if a golf cart is stolen or vandalized.
Proof of liability insurance for the driver should be mandatory, involving coverage for any damage to anyone else’s property.
All vehicles should have proper lights, including brake and tail lights and seat belts should be mandatory for anyone riding or driving these vehicles.
If you want to accuse The Republic of being all “Debbie Downer” over this, consider the 2023 case in South Carolina in which a newlywed couple was traveling to their reception in a golf cart and was struck by a drunk driver, who eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The bride died. Wearing her wedding dress. In a golf cart.
We’ll be watching closely as this ordinance is put together and listen to the public input that is submitted.
But please remember the danger in the details with this proposal, and it would be wise to heed the potential for harm before moving forward.
