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City golf cart rules to become stricter
9/8/2010 9:15:04 AM
By Hope Brumbach
Splash Editor
Golf carts likely will be required to include seatbelts if driven on city streets in Liberty Lake, according to new rules the City Council is considering.
A new state law allows communities to create golf cart zones and also dictates that golf cart drivers must take certain safety precautions on public roadways.
The city of Liberty Lake adopted a golf cart ordinance several years ago, but the statewide law requires the city to update its rules, city staff said in a workshop discussion Tuesday.
The biggest difference between the current city practice and the state law, Police Chief Brian Asmus said, is the state's requirement of seatbelts.
The state law, however, applies to public roadways with a speed limit of 25 mph or less and wouldn't apply to private pathways around town, Asmus said. For golf cart drivers who want to forego installing seatbelts, sticking to paths is a viable option. Advertisement
Driving golf carts to the farmers market or grocery store is a unique aspect of the local culture, city officials said.
Asmus said the department has never issued a citation for a golf cart violation.
The proposed change doesn't have a pressing timeline for a Council decision, Asmus said, especially the change in seasons.
In other business, the City Council continued its ongoing discussion about addressing an estimated $700,000 budget shortfall for 2011.
The Council said Tuesday it wants to see more concrete scenarios for possible cuts to services, as well as examining new revenue streams. The Council addressed some of the extreme suggestions from an online survey of residents about budget solutions, including proposals to close the library, sell off the city-owned Trailhead Golf Course or drastically reduce the police department.
"I don't think you start dumping stuff just because times are tough," Councilwoman Judi Owens said. "Let's start thinking a little outside the box and not just stop everything that makes Liberty Lake what it is."
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