ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – With summer temperatures finally here, more people are out on the roads. They’re also operating all kinds of vehicles.
In February, Escanaba’s City Council approved a resolution allowing golf carts to legally operate on designated roadways. However, that freedom comes with a list of restrictions.
“You have to be 16 years old,” explained Escanaba Public Safety Director Darren Smith. “You have to have a valid driver’s license. You can’t go at speeds higher than 15 miles per hour. You can’t be on streets that have a speed limit over 30 miles per hour. You can’t drive a half hour before sunset or a half hour before sunrise. You have to meet all the hand signal and turning requirements and follow all the Michigan vehicle code laws that apply to golf carts.”
According to Smith, the resolution is proving effective. So far this year, the department has not received any accident or injury reports involving golf carts. It has taken the burden of educating the public off law enforcement, and it’s relieved some worries for families.
“Especially parents knowing that their children under 16 cannot just take a golf cart and drive anywhere,” Smith said. “Even with this passed, you can’t drive on a sidewalk within the city. If they follow the laws and how the resolution is supposed to go, I can’t foresee any issues that we’re going to have with this.”
For many Upper Peninsula communities, the hot topic right now is e-bikes. That’s the issue the City of Escanaba plans to tackle next.
“Currently, I’m looking into other cities, the problems they have, what we want to allow and disallow,” said Smith. “We’ll be looking into it in the next week, before the Fourth of July. Hopefully, if there’s changes needed, we’ll make them by then.”
E-bikes have especially become a concern in Ludington Park.
“You have e-bikes and golf carts on the grass,” Smith said. “We have the City Band on different nights and events going on. I have to look really if we’re going to limit those e-bikes to paved pathways only because, when it comes down to it, public safety and the safety of children at the park, that’s the number one concern.”
Lately, a large number of tickets are being issued to individuals operating various types of vehicles in the park.
“We get loud music complaints, loud exhaust, squealing tires, speeding,” said Smith. “It’s usually high school kids. We’ve got children in playgrounds, parks. There’s a good chance that somebody’s going to get hurt.”
Whatever citizens choose to ride this summer, Public Safety asks them to remember the rules, be respectful, and be aware that actions do have consequences.
“My directive to our department is that we’re done with the warnings,” Smith said. “If somebody’s speeding, driving careless, they’re going to get a citation. They’ll see both marked patrol cars. We’ll have officers in both golf carts, bicycles, undercover cars. I think the word’s getting out. Hopefully it gets better, and everyone can come to the park and be safe.”
To see all restrictions on golf carts under the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.657a), click here.
