PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Authorities in Port St. Lucie are now strictly enforcing golf cart laws, issuing citations and fines for drivers operating their carts where they shouldn’t be.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department (PSLPD) says complaints have increased over the past year alongside the growing population.

Driving a golf cart within a private Homeowners Association (HOA) community, such as Tradition, is generally fine, but once the cart enters a public road, the driver becomes subject to citations and fines. Over the past six months, the PSLPD issued 16 citations related to golf cart violations. Sergeant Dominick Mesiti with PSLPD explains the reason for the enforcement drive.

“You enforce the small things that way the big things don’t get out of hand, so that one aspect that’s one reason why we enforce traffic issues such as unlawful golf carts or the unlawful operation of low-speed vehicles,” Mesiti said.

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To avoid a ticket, golf cart owners in Port St. Lucie must adhere to several rules that are now being strictly enforced: Golf carts cannot be driven outside of HOA communities, on roads with speed limits above 25 miles per hour, or at night. Furthermore, both standard golf carts and low-speed vehicles can only be driven on double-wide. Authorities also emphasize the distinction between a standard golf cart and a Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV): if your cart can go faster than 20 miles per hour, it is considered an LSV and requires a license plate and registration.

Tradition resident Kassy Cooper, who drives her cart to Publix, said she understands the increased enforcement. “I understand why they do it because the sidewalks are smaller on our end, so if someone is walking or riding their bike on the sidewalk, the golf cart needs to get to the side. I understand that, but some people don’t.”

The crackdown is also motivated by safety concerns. Over the past six months, police have responded to nine accidents involving golf carts, including one fatal crash.

“If you’re operating it on a roadway, even if it’s a private, legally HOA private roadway, and you get into a crash with a motor vehicle, likely the motor vehicle is going to win because you’re talking thousands of pounds vs. hundreds of pounds,” Sgt. Mesiti explained.

While most people stopped will receive a moving violation or a smaller citation, authorities warn that you could receive up to a year in prison if caught driving a golf cart or LSV without a valid driver’s license. Authorities say it’s important to get a handle on the golf cart issue now as the population continues to grow.

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