By ELAINE VAN DEVELDE
If you have one of those small, motorized vehicles that resembles a golf cart and will not exceed a speed of 25 miles per hour, dont drive it on public roads in Tinton Falls.
In the name of public safety and as a just in case measure, the Borough Council recently adopted an ordinance banning the small low speed vehicles from traveling on roadways alongside much higher speed cars, trucks, vans and SUVs in town.
Its not a big deal, but we just wanted to have an ordinance on the books before it became an issue, Mayor Peter Maclearie said. The vehicles were talking about are not motorized wheelchairs (Jazzies) or off-road all terrain sport vehicles. They are those small motorized buggies that look like golf carts. Theyre popular in shore towns, such as Belmar and Spring Lake and smaller towns.
The problem with the low speed vehicles being operated on most any road in the borough is that they are not meant to keep up with other traffic, which could be traveling at speeds more like 40 miles per hour. As a result, the mayor said, it stands to reason that if people were not specifically prohibited from using them on borough roads in the regular stream of traffic, they could become a catalyst to all sorts of accidents.
In addition to the speed factor, the low-speed carts could be a distraction to other drivers, he added. However, they do have a purpose, Maclearie said, and as long as they are used within the confines of private property, such as a gated private development or retirement village, then they can continue to be used.
Were not telling people to get rid of them if they have them, Maclearie said. Just keep them on private property. For instance, if someone has one in a retirement community, such as Seabrook Village, and they are using it to transport senior citizens within the confines of that retirement community, then thats fine. They just cant be riding them in the normal flow of traffic on public roads.
Read more about your town by picking up The Coaster at your local newsstand or subscribe today.
Published every Thursday.
