Residents of one county neighborhood are concerned that an excessive number of golf carts and 4-wheelers speeding through their neighborhood could lead to injuries or even worse.
Residents in the greater Lakeview area, east of Columbia, have approached Marion County Sheriff Berkley Hall and Constable Robbie Gill with complaints.
Resident Duane “Dutch” Van Fleet said he has raised the concerns before, but is worried riders on the off-road vehicles are a danger to themselves and others. The vehicles by statute are not allowed to run on roadways in Mississippi.
“Several days ago, a cart loaded with approximately eight adults and children, a dog and several infants were out on the road,” he said. “Keep in mind that this type of golf cart or 4-wheeler is often driven on National Guard Road, where trucks and autos travel well over 70 mph on a regular basis. A battery powered golf cart and its occupants stand little or no chance of survival against an SUV traveling at 70 mph and the driver DUI.”
Van Fleet said other residents have contacted him and several have told him about close calls.
“One states that when he sees a golf cart coming he is afraid that the children may fall off the cart and be run over by his truck,” Van Fleet said. “This same person told me that recently a child fell off one of the carts and ran after it yelling for it to stop. The driver was unaware that anyone had fallen off.”
Other instances of near accidents have been reported to Van Fleet and he wants to see action by both law enforcement and the owners or parents of young drivers on the vehicles.
“If we all know that the golf carts and 4-wheeler problem exists and continues unchecked, does that not make us in some degree liable for this child endangerment?” he asked.
Gill said the problem is countywide, but Lakeview has particular concerns.
“Lakeview came up because there are some citizens who are concerned,” he said. Gill said he too has had reports from citizens who almost struck a 4-wheeler or gold cart in the Lakeview area.
“There are two ladies that have called me personally and said that they have almost run over a golf cart or 4-wheeler,” he said. “It’s time to take action. I’ve witnessed myself 8-year-olds with a 3-year-old on it. Lakeview used to be small, but now it’s venturing off and more people live in the area and down National Guard Road. People will drive down National Guard Road fast. Once they get past the stop sign and go further, there are curves. I’ve gone around a curve and there were children in a cart that if I had been driving excessively, I could have almost killed all three of them.”
In the interest of safety of the children, Gill said he may begin writing tickets.
“I’ve been warning the kids and telling their parents,” he said. “I am here for the people of Marion County, so I have to do what I have to do to make sure those kids are safe. If two ladies that hardly ever complain are worried or upset and call me, and children are in danger, then we will take action. They’re almost getting killed … that’s the key. Everybody always keys on the ticket or says I’m mean or abusing my authority, but it is about kids’ safety; that’s what I ran for constable for was kids safety.”
Hall said the carts and 4-wheelers are very popular in Marion County.
“There are so many of them,” he said. “There are very few people that don’t own some kind of ATV. I own one myself. They are made to have fun on, but they are designed to have only so many riders on them. When you get down to it, if you want to enforce it, then Lakeview is just a small part of the county. If we’re going to do it, then it needs to be across the county.”
Hall said the laws are specific.
“Anything that is not tagged is not supposed to be on the road,” he said. “That includes 4-wheelers or whatever it may be. We don’t want a kid to get hurt. We want them to have a good time while they’re out for the summer. But this ultimately rolls back to the parent, knowing who, what, when and where their kids are. We can stop them and it’s going to scare them for a little while, but they’ll be right back at it after a while.”
Hall spoke about the ability to issue citations for the violations.
“Ultimately, when you go back to it, that parent is responsible for what that child does, whether he commits a crime or whatever,” he said. “If he or she causes property damage, the parent will be held liable.”
Hall said while there had not been any accidents reported on golf carts or 4-wheelers in Lakeview, it was still a concern.
“There have been some near misses, according to some of the people,” he said. “I always tell them to call dispatch because sometimes a deputy might be near there. I live out east of Columbia, so I go through Lakeview on a regular basis. Every one of our vehicles don’t have sheriff painted on the side of it. We have several unmarked vehicles. I’ve actually stopped a golf cart and had a conversation with the young man. If you’re going to enforce it to the strictest word – it can’t be on the road. – that means an adult or anybody. I know many people that ride their grandchildren around. It takes some youths to ruin it for people.”
