Fort Myers residents upset over golf cart law crackdown

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Fort Myers police are stepping up their enforcement on golf cart laws within city limits.

“I think it’s a sad, sad waste of resources,” Erleene Sanders said.

Sanders has lived in Fort Myers for decades. She says she likes to drive her grandchildren around on golf carts and socialize with the neighbors.

“We all live in a beautiful, beautiful town and you know that’s another safety issue too–the more people that are out, the less crime.”

The laws that are currently in place essentially mean you cannot drive on roads if the golf cart is not properly equipped. Drivers are also not allowed to be on the sidewalks. Some say their main concern are when children are behind the wheel.

“Believe me there’s opinions on both sides of this issue. It’s a very divisive issue. There’s just as many people who want it as there are who do not want it as far as I can tell,” Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson said.

A lawyer who lives near Mcgregor is also torn on the issue.

“I’ve kind of got mixed emotions on it. It is apart of the culture here and it is a really neat thing that you get to do,” Michael McQuagge of McQuagge & King Law Firm said. “I do think there probably needs to be a compromise on it. Children on golf carts? We probably really need to look at that.”

Several years ago, a study was done to find out what would be required to make Fort Myers more golf cart friendly, but no action was ever taken.

Now that there is a closer eye on those cruising around, many are upset.

“It’s time to get our priorities in order, we’re spending all this time and energy on golf carts,” Sanders said.

Mayor Henderson says this issue has not been brought up to the city council yet but hopes to have a healthy debate about the topic in order to come up with a compromise.

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