Will golf carts be a common sight on Oldenburg streets in coming months? All sorts of vehicles were debated at the Aug. 4 council meeting.

“There are a lot of people in town that would like to legalize golf carts,” which would be more economical to operate than larger vehicles with the high cost of gas, said Dan Weigel. Two other advantages: “They're quiet” and carts would “make it easy to run to the store.”

Although it seems like a novel idea, carts are legal in nine Indiana towns, according to Weigel, and three more are talking about it. In Fairfield County, Ohio, police use golf carts to patrol the streets, he added.

After reading guidelines from other towns, Weigel reported, “You have to be a licensed driver,” which would rule out kids operating the carts. They would have to be equipped like streetworthy vehicles, with turn signals, lights and seat belts. “Some have slow moving vehicle signs.”

Council member Dennis Moeller said, “Most golf carts don't have all those gizmos.” Weigel replied, “Some do, some don't.” They could be modified, he pointed out.

Tom Baumer asked if insurance would be mandatory.

One town’s ordinance required a $10 inspection fee and $15 registration fee. The local police, not the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, performed the inspections, distributed stickers and kept the fees.

Town attorney Tom O’Connor wondered if Hoosier golf cart ordinances have been tested in court.

Moeller asked, “Do any of these towns have a state highway running through them?” Weigel answered yes. Some ordinances allowed carts to cross state highways, but not travel on them.

Moeller questioned, “How fast do they go? If I get behind you and I'm in a hurry ...” According to Weigel, one ordinance stated carts couldn't be driven on roads with speed limits above 35 miles per hour.

Moeller acknowledged, “It's worth looking into.” If town leaders decide to allow golf carts, “we'd be on the cutting edge.”

When Marshal Scott Barnhorst learned of the proposal, he observed Aug. 6, “That’s a good thing .... I don’t have an issue with that.”

“We would have to take a good, strong look at it so we can do it right,” advised O’Connor. He suggested a special committee conduct a meeting just on that topic. “You're going to have to have a way to enforce it.”

“I'll be honest with you. As the use of electric cars (increases)... you are going to have to address that in some way. I think our best bet is to have me ... call Portland (which had rules Weigel favored) and get a copy of that town's ordinance,” then research the issue.

Switching topics, Bret Dulin said, “I need to know the rules and regulations on quads, motorcycles, lawn mowers and farm equipment” on town streets. “Are they legal? What are we going to do about these kids that are riding double on scooters? Some don't have helmets.”