MONROE TWP. — Golf carts can now be legally driven on some Monroe Charter Township roads.
At its March meeting, the Monroe Charter Township board, by a vote of 5-2, approved Regulation 25-6, which permits the operation of golf carts on designated neighborhood roads. No votes were cast by Brian Merkle and Kevin Raymo. On April 1, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners approved Monroe Township’s golf cart resolution.
Before April 1, golf carts were not legally permitted to operate on any township road.
“Golf carts were not permissible prior to this resolution in Monroe Charter Township,” said John Manor, Monroe Township supervisor.
Manor said some residents at the March township board meeting addressed the new golf cart resolution. Most were in support of its approval. One of the main concerns was liability.
“There was some concern that the township would be liable in some way if any accidents occurred. Township legal counsel assured that we would not be liable. Other concerns were that not all neighborhoods would want to participate,” Manor said.
The adoption of the township’s golf cart resolution was a decade in the making.
“The township has been considering this resolution for the past 10 years,” Manor said. “We have had numerous requests from residents and even had a petition from Avalon Beach/Bolles Harbor to allow the use of golf carts on subdivision streets. We felt that, by creating a resolution, we could set restrictions on where, when and who can operate golf carts within the township and allow law enforcement clearer guidelines for enforcement.”
Before the vote, the township board sought input from Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough.
“The sheriff was instrumental in ensuring that golf carts would not be allowed on any major roadways within the township and would be limited to subdivision streets only,” Manor said.
Where are golf carts allowed?
Golf carts can be driven only on public streets in platted subdivisions in Monroe Township. They cannot be driven on state highways.
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners also may exclude other roads, Manor said.
According to the resolution: “The Monroe County Board of Commissioners may disapprove of the operation of golf carts on the streets of a township by resolution after holding a public hearing after providing public notice of the hearing and written notice to the township at least 45 days before the hearing, if they determine that one or more of the following apply: a) The operation of golf carts on the streets of the township would cause significant environmental damage; b) The operation of golf carts on the streets of the township would cause a significant concern of public safety.”
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Where are golf carts not allowed?
Golf carts are not permitted in Monroe Township on state highways, like M-50 (South Custer Road), M-125 (South Monroe Street/South Dixie), US-24 (South Telegraph Road), LaPlaisance Road, Mortar Creek Road, Keegan Road, Hull Road and Albain Road.
What are the requirements to operate a golf cart in Monroe Township?
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For the full text of the resolution, visit Monroe Charter Township’s Facebook page.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Golf carts now allowed on some Monroe Township roads. What to know
Reporting by Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
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