GALVESTON, Texas -- West End residents plan to plead for their golf carts again today when the city council takes up the contentious debate about where the slow-moving vehicles should be allowed on city streets.
Golf cart owners feared the city planned to ban golf carts last month after Police Chief Charles Wiley told council members he did not think the flimsy vehicles should be allowed anywhere but the golf course.
Wiley later said he was not interested in banning the carts and only wanted the council to decide where they should be allowed on public streets.
During today’s meeting, the council will consider forming a committee to make recommendations about golf cart use in master planned communities and on other public streets.
The agenda does not include any ordinance that would change the current use of golf carts, ensuring the council cannot enact any kind of ban today.
Under new regulations passed earlier this year by the state Legislature, golf carts no longer have to be registered if they are driven in master planned communities, within 2 miles of a golf course or on the beach.
But the new state law leaves it up to cities to decide whether to allow golf carts on other city streets with speed limits set at 35 mph or less.
West End residents said golf carts are part of their way of life.
They use them to get to nearby stores, the Galveston Island Country Club and neighbors’ houses.
In other business, the council will consider reducing the time limit for speakers during public comment from 5 minutes to 3 minutes and will discuss holding regular workshop meetings.
GALVESTON — West End residents plan to plead for their golf carts again today when the city council takes up the contentious debate about where the slow-moving vehicles should be allowed on city streets.
Golf cart owners feared the city planned to ban golf carts last month after Police Chief Charles Wiley told council members he did not think the flimsy vehicles should be allowed anywhere but the golf course.
Wiley later said he was not interested in banning the carts and only wanted the council to decide where they should be allowed on public streets.
During today’s meeting, the council will consider forming a committee to make recommendations about golf cart use in master planned communities and on other public streets.
The agenda does not include any ordinance that would change the current use of golf carts, ensuring the council cannot enact any kind of ban today.
Under new regulations passed earlier this year by the state Legislature, golf carts no longer have to be registered if they are driven in master planned communities, within 2 miles of a golf course or on the beach.
But the new state law leaves it up to cities to decide whether to allow golf carts on other city streets with speed limits set at 35 mph or less.
West End residents said golf carts are part of their way of life.
They use them to get to nearby stores, the Galveston Island Country Club and neighbors’ houses.
In other business, the council will consider reducing the time limit for speakers during public comment from 5 minutes to 3 minutes and will discuss holding regular workshop meetings.
This story was brought to you thanks to our partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.
