Watch out 'fore' golf carts and more on Sandusky's streets

SANDUSKY — It's not really par for the course.But Sandusky officials want golf carts, utility vehicles and the like to share the streets with traditional automobile traffic.During a recent public meeting, city commissioners revised existing rules to better cater toward those driving such smaller vehicles on roadways.Sandusky law director Justin Harris provided further clarification."Prior to the amended legislation, only golf carts, after being inspected by our police department and determined to be legal, could be operated on city roadways," Harris said. "Following the vote, in addition to golf carts, utility vehicles, gators and mules can be used on city roadways with speed limits of 35 mph and less."The legislation requires a second vote, scheduled for Sept. 25. Thirty days after that, Oct. 25, is the earliest point from when this could become a law.Commissioners voted 6-0 on the possible changes. Dick Brady didn't attend the meeting because of a business emergency. One elected official in particular vocally supported the cause."The (city's) legislation could match the state's legislation, which is a road that is 35 mph or less could accommodate golf carts and other utility vehicles," commissioner Greg Lockhart said. "This would include 'gators and mules,' which are safer vehicles. They have a roll cage and go slightly faster than golf carts."A former board first created Sandusky's golf cart rules about 10 years ago. Since then, there hasn't been a single serious incident reported involving them.Despite voting "yes," one commissioner did raise an issue, calling this process "overkill.""It just doesn't seem, to me, we should be making a rule that hasn't been established as a real safety problem," commissioner Wes Poole said.Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.In this 2014 photo, Coach" Dan Roth drives a golf cart as he enjoys Monday's warm weather. Sandusky city commissioners recently revised existing rules allowing for gators and mules, as well as golf carts, to share the roadway with traditional vehicular traffic.