Ordinance could take a swing at golf carts

The thrill of driving an electric golf cart up and down the streets and trails of Liberty Lake may soon become an adults-only affair.

The Liberty Lake City Council tonight will consider an ordinance limiting golf cart use in the city. If passed, it will require carts to be registered and their drivers be at least 16 with driver’s licenses if the carts are on city streets or sidewalks, among other rules.

“One of the major concerns that we had was the kids driving the golf carts,” Mayor Steve Peterson said. “We’ve tried to talk to people and warn them, but it gets to the point where more and more people are using them and it’s time to do something.”

A few days ago, Liberty Lake police heard a complaint in which five children were riding in a cart, two of them strapped into the back where golf clubs are typically stored. The carts can typically hit a top speed of 15 to 20 mph.

The ordinance will give teeth to what Liberty Lake police have been warning parents about for some time, Chief Brian Asmus said.

“Safety issues have been brought to my attention by several members of the community,” said Asmus, who added there have been no serious accidents involving carts.

“We’re trying to be proactive and come up with an ordinance that allows people to use carts, but within certain limitations.”

With the new ordinance, police will be able to tell parents that it’s against the law for their children to use carts on city streets.

Police will be able to use the cart registration, which will cost only the amount of the decal, to find who is responsible for each cart.

In a rule that will affect many citizens who use the carts to drive to Pavillion Park for summer movies, a headlamp and a rear reflector will be required for carts driven at night.

Asmus told the City Council that officers will attempt to give warnings before giving out tickets or fines, which could reach $250 at the officer’s discretion.

There is no financial motivation to the law, only an attempt to keep people safe in the city, Peterson said.

“It’s got nothing to do with revenue or tickets or anything like that,” he said.

“It’s all about the kids, and all the people that are using the trails.”