Golf carts on Tates Creek Road? It’s a no. Lexington sees surge in carts on streets.
It’s illegal to drive golf carts on public streets.
But many people in Lexington apparently don’t know that.
Several members of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council said Tuesday during a council work session that the number of complaints and emails they have received about people driving electric-powered golf carts on city streets is climbing.
“I’m getting photos of kids driving golf carts on roadways,” said Councilman Bill Farmer Jr.
Lexington Police Commander Sam Murdock said the state law on golf carts is confusing at best. It prohibits golf carts on public roads unless a city has an ordinance allowing it. Lexington has no such ordinance. But people have to read that section of the Kentucky Revised Statues in its entirety to understand that.
Councilwoman Amanda Bledsoe said golf carts previously had been an issue. Some neighborhoods have asked if thecarts can be used only on neighborhood streets..
“I got a text from someone who saw someone on a golf cart on Tates Creek Road,” Bledsoe said.
Farmer said he’s not sure if the surge in use and complaints about golf carts is connected to more people working out of their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. But the number of complaints climbed in recent months, he said.
The council agreed to have the city’s Planning and Public Safety Committee review the golf cart issue. Farmer said he wasn’t advocating for changes but thought the issue needed to be addressed. A date for that meeting has not yet been set.
This story was originally published September 23, 2020 at 8:47 AM.
