TYLER, Texas — The Tyler Police Department will be upping their enforcement on the unauthorized use of golf carts.
The city has received complaints pertaining to residents, including children, operating golf carts on city roads.
"We started this back in 2017 when we were receiving complaints from citizens that they were observing, for the most part, children operating golf carts on the public roadways," Officer Don Martin said.
The increased attention to enforcing golf cart laws is to keep kids from getting into accidents, like the one that occurred in 2018.
"We had a juvenile who was injured on a golf cart, she had fallen from the golf cart while operating it," Officer Martin said. "She had a major trauma, head injury, and was flown to the Dallas area."
Residents in Hollytree say it is common to see children driving around in golf carts, some as young as 12.
"Well, there's a lot of families, a lot of young children in this neighborhood, it's terrible, you see a lot of young kids," Hollytree resident Kevin Pauza said.
Hollytree Place Homeowners Association President John Hart says if someone does not have a driver's license or are not at least 16-years-old, they should not be driving a golf cart.
Officer Martin says there are a couple of rules to follow in order to avoid receiving a citation:
- You must have a valid driver's license.
- You cannot live more than two miles away from a golf course.
- Driving at night is not allowed.
- Driving at speeds above 35 miles per hour is prohibited.
"We're enforcing the laws that are already out there, we didn't just make this up and say hey, it'd be no different than me writing you a warning ticket for you running a stop sign," Officer Martin said.
To help enforce golf cart laws, police will be having their bike team spend more time in the golf course communities on the weekends.