NORTH BALTIMORE — Golf carts aren’t just for the course anymore.
But anyone in Ohio who operates a low-speed vehicle, including a golf cart, ATV and four-wheeler, may
want to stay off the roads until their vehicles are licensed and insured.
Two village residents known to use golf carts to get around have met the new requirements set forth by
the state, according to Police Chief Allan Baer.
Baer updated council Tuesday on Ohio Revised Code 4511.214, which went into effect Sunday and prohibits
the use of a low-speed vehicle on roads with speed limits over 35 mph.
The new law treats such vehicles just like any other, meaning they have to go through an inspection to
get a title so they can get license plates.
According to Baer, any person stopped who is operating a vehicle without license, insurance and
registration, will be cited for a minor misdemeanor.
“You can’t be on the road unless you’re insured and licensed,” he said.
And to be licensed, the vehicle needs to be street legal, which requires a windshield, taillights, brake
lights, turn signals and a horn, he said.
Baer thinks the ordinance is to make sure all drivers are insured in case of an accident.
“If a golf cart causes a wreck, who takes the brunt of it?” he asked. “The owner of the other vehicle.”
Councilman Rich Rose said he has an ATV with no windshield.
It will have to be brought up to code before it’s allowed back on the streets, Baer said.
While auto insurance may not cover a golf cart or ATV, homeowners insurance might, added legal counsel
Joel Kuhlman.
Baer said he will allow a one-month or two-month grace period before he starts enforcing the new rules.
He said he will write tickets if there is “flagrant disregard” of the rules.
The law is not to catch and ticket, but rather to educate, he said.
He had no answer to whether lawn mowers fall under the new guidelines.
Kuhlman said he will develop an outline of the new rules for council.
“It’s a big, big change for this community,” Baer said.
His department will conduct inspections, which then will need to be taken to the bureau of motor vehicles
for licensing.
Council also adopted a job-creation grant that will be available for any business or industry interested
in creating new jobs that would bring in an additional $500,000 or more in payroll. Time limits and
amount of income tax payback were discussed at the last meeting, but village administrator Allyson
Murray said council will determine those options on a case by case basis.
Council also learned that:
• Income tax collection was up $176,510 in 2016 from 2015.
• The village soon will be added to the online Ohio Checkbook.
• All downtown businesses have been alerted to the Main Street corridor water main project and will be
provided with an estimated time table once one is determined. Once the project starts, parking will be
prohibited in the downtown block between State and Broadway streets and water service may be interrupted
without notice.
• The winter weather policy involving snowplowing provisions should be available at a committee of the
whole meeting scheduled for Jan. 10. Several council members have expressed concern over the lack of
plowing and the snow left in the median after the last storm.
