News : Council to revisit golf cart ordinance after historic veto by Mayor Watson

Mayor John Watson seems to have made history last week, when he vetoed the golf cart ordinance which the Vinton City Council had approved at the previous meeting.

It is the first time anyone can recall a Watson veto.

Watson told the city council at its last meeting that he had heard many comments from local residents about the new ordinance – none of them favorable.

The Mayor agreed with many of those residents and has suggested some changes for a new ordinance regulating the use of golf carts on city streets.

“I think 16 is old enough with a driver’s license,” said the Mayor. (The new ordinance would have set a minimum age of 18) “I think that proof of insurance should be shown if asked by a police officer, and the best way to identify carts is to get a numbered sticker at a very small cost, maybe $2. Last, but not least, I think every person on the cart should have their butt on a seat.”

Watson said he plans to go to the Vinton Country Club to inspect a variety of golf carts.

“I was told that every cart has a manufacturer’s plate on it that tells how many persons should be on the cart, kind of like a boat has,” says the Mayor, who plans to find our for himself at the golf course.

Regardless of what the council does, the Mayor says, the most important thing is common sense used by those who do decide to drive golf carts on the streets.

“The one thing that really gets people upset is when a cart is on the street with kids on the driver’s lap or riding on the back of a cart were the clubs are supposed to be,” he says. “I believe the adults need to think about what they are doing when giving rides to little ones and if they are really being safe.”

In his typical candid style, the Mayor makes the point that safety is up to the adults who make the decision to put a golf cart on the street with other vehicles.

“I have been told by many that we as a city government can't fix stupid. I agree totally, but do we as a community need to step in at some point and at least try to curb stupid?” I had heard many reports of too many people on carts, not enough adults to hang on to little kids, people going through stop signs, etc. I have been told on a few occasions that someone is going to get hurt. I hope that never happens but if and when it does the person or persons involved can look back and feel that they did everything they could to be safe, and still an accident happened. I don't know if my thoughts are any different than anyone else that uses common sense," he adds.

Both City Manager Chris Ward and City Clerk Cindy Michael say they do not recall a Watson veto of a council action. Ward and the Mayor discussed the process as governed by Iowa Code Section 380, which requires a mayor to offer a written explanation for a veto to the city council. Mayor Watson presented that to the council at its last meeting.

“I don't recall for sure if I have used the veto before, but if I have not, I know I have asked City Attorney Bob Fisher about it,” Watson says.

New definitions

Ward says he will be working with Fisher and Police Chief Ted Paxton on drafting a new ordinance that addresses the Mayor’s recommendations.

The first thing a new ordinance will do is more specifically define the kind of vehicles allowed on the street," Ward explains.

While commonly called “golf carts,” the four-wheel vehicles with small gas or electric motors are officially called “golf cars” by those who set official standards.

A “cart,” by definition, is a wheeled vehicle without a motor, that needs some sort of human or mechanical power to move it.

Ward says the new ordinance will rely on the definition of a "golf car" found in ANSI Z.130.1.

ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute, a non-profit organization that helps create “voluntary consensus standards” that define a wide variety of equipment. The definition found in Z.130.1 defines golf cars as vehicles with a speed of less than 15 MPH. The definition also includes a variety of specifications and safety features.

“99 percent of the golf carts fit in that definition,” says Ward.

One complaint from residents was about the annual registration fee of $25; Ward said the new ordinance is more likely to include a one-time registration process and fee. He said the city council will begin discussing the new ordinance proposal at its next meeting, on June 9.

Frequent debates in many areas

Vinton is by no means the only city where golf cart safety has become an issue. From Britt, Iowa, to Bald Head Beach, N.C., government officials and safety experts have reviewed definitions, guidelines, limits, prohibitions and other rules designed to keep citizens safe while still allowing them the freedom to drive golf cars on city streets.