During the meting of the Marshall City Council on Monday, November 18, it considered approval of a proposed ordinance to allow golf carts to be driven on certain city streets by persons 18 years and older.
City Attorney Josh Taylor pointed out a couple of changes have been made to the original rough draft of the ordinance, including golf carts can only cross Bypass Highway 65- and other highways on which the speed limit is at least 45 miles per hour- where there is an electronic traffic control signal. He said the ordinance does not include Gator-type or Side-by-Side UTVs.
Prior to voting on the first reading, Ward 3 Councilman Dan Brandt expressed concern about passing such an ordinance because he thinks it’s a big public safety issue.

Brandt said he looked at “E-Z-Go” because it’s one of the biggest golf cart manufacturers in the world, and its carts come off the assembly line and run 12 to 14 miles per hour; and it’s really not recommended they go faster than that.

Several other councilmen also expressed similar concerns.
But despite the concerns, the council voted six to one- with one councilman absent- to approve the first reading of the ordinance. It will be brought back before the council again at a future date for a second reading. If approved at that point, it will be in effect. However, it was pointed out that the ordinance can be repealed in the future if too many problems arise.