The City of Jennings is considering golf cart regulations amid safety and enforcement concerns.

The city could join a growing list of communities statewide that are allowing residents to drive golf carts and other off-road vehicles on designated streets.

“This has been a topic that’s been brought up many months ago, if not years ago,” Mayor Henry Guinn said.

City officials said discussions are ongoing for implementing rules and regulations and addressing overall safety issues and enforcement by city police.

A city ordinance can be more stringent, but cannot be any less than current state statutes, according to Guinn.

“We would be able to add more teeth to it, but there has to be clearly defined crossings on state routes,” he said.

State highways inside the city include Cutting Avenue, Shankland Avenue, La. 102, U.S. 90 and La. 97. The state also allows golf carts on designated parish roads or municipal streets by local ordinance.

Resident Forrest “Frosty” Strickland asked city leaders this week to consider drafting golf cart regulations to address safety concerns and requirements making the golf carts safer for city streets.

“One of my main concerns is children on golf carts,” Strickland said. “We have an epidemic. (We have) 10 and 12-year-olds running through stop signs. They’ve almost been hit numerous times. I’ve had people tell me they almost hit children.”

Neighboring communities including Welsh, Lake Arthur and Westlake have regulations in place and do not have any issues with the golf carts on the streets, he said.

“My proposal is that we license golf carts,” he said. “They come to the city once a year for an inspection sticker, just like you go get your car done.”

In addition, Strickland proposed that golf carts have brake lights, front and rear turn signals, a horn, headlights, a windshield, rear view mirrors, be regulated to 25 mph and be inspected once or every two years at a cost of $25-$50.

Strickland asked that the city form a committee including himself, the mayor, police chief and at least one council member to review the golf cart issue and consider guidelines for safety equipment, requirements, exemptions and registration. The committee will report back to the city council in 60 days.

“The only way we are going to regulate golf carts is to put regulations on them,” he said. “It’s tough on the police right now. I think by regulating them it will make it easier because once they get fined the first or second time, then it’s confiscated the third time.”

Strickland said he is not asking for regulations on utility vehicles or side-by-sides.

However, Council President Stevie VanHook said the discussion should include side-by-sides and other utility vehicles, as well as motorized bicycles because of increased activity.

“This is a multifaceted issue, primarily with children and the safety issues of driving these machines on the streets,” VanHook said.

Resident Chris Lehman said it is not so much the golf cart activity, but expressed concerns about introducing another type of vehicle on streets that have potholes and ruts.

Lehman urged the city council to hold off on implementing regulations on golf carts and other vehicles until it has had time to consider how the vehicles will impact the city based on driving and streets conditions.

Lehman also voiced concern about the noise of some of the vehicles, including ATVs.

“You’ve got to think about Jennings as basically a bed and breakfast kind of community,” he said. “I live on a street that when an ATV goes by it echoes…While people are trying to have leisurely fun, at the same time it is very annoying to other people.”

He also aired concern about having enough police officers to enforce the regulations and respond to calls about the vehicles.

“I don’t think there is really enough manpower and basically an opportunity for the type of enforcement that is necessary to cover all these different things,” Lehman said. “…It’s much more than just getting golf carts licensed or registered.”

Lehman’s wife, Angela Lehman, said the issue is truly about enforcement and the lack of police officers to make sure people are not trespassing, there aren’t any noise violations and to ensure the vehicles are in compliance with all regulations.

“It’s probably something that needs a lot more discussion,” she said. “Yes, there is a state law but for implementation purposes it really needs a lot of thought. We also have to look at the other communities that have it and what the law says about crossing state roads.”

 

Angela Lehman also urged the council to involve the public and seek their opinions before setting any regulations.