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CNN Saturday Morning News

Court Says Golf Carts on Streets Require Driver's Licenses

Aired June 21, 2003 - 09:51   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: In the community of Peachtree City, Georgia, a court is putting the brakes on some kids in golf carts. The community near Atlanta has several miles of paved paths where golf carts rule. I know, I live there. I drive on one of those things. But some kids have been taking their carts onto city streets. A court says that's a no. No without a driver's license.
Roy Hobbs of affiliate WAGA has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROY HOBBS, REPORTER, WAGA-TV: They have 80 miles of golf paths in Peachtree City used by people 12 years old and up. That all changes because of a new state law.

MAYOR STEVE BROWN, PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA: Obviously it's devastating to Peachtree City to hear this type of news. It affects some of our teen drivers, it affects some of our senior citizens.

HOBBS: That's the mayor of Peachtree City telling council members you will now have to be a licensed driver to drive golf carts on the golf paths.

BROWN: We're mandated by state law to have the police go and enforce these laws. So obviously, if you have a teenage driver, we allow 12-year-olds to drive all the way up to the age of 15 with parental supervision. It's pretty easy to spot a 12-year-old driving a golf cart.

HOBBS: None of the teens I spoke with were happy about this new state law.

ANTHONY CASINI, 15-YEAR-OLD CART DRIVER: I don't like it. I like being able to go wherever I want on the golf cart.

HOBBS: It's the same for some other citizens here, and that's why city officials are concerned.

BROWN: We do have a situation, though, where we have seniors driving without driver's licenses, who can no longer drive a car. They utilize the carts as their only means of transportation. We have disabled citizens who use the carts as their only means of transportation. So there's a huge concern there.

HOBBS: However, since word of the change is just starting to trickle out, those who are in violation will get a break, they'll get a warning.

BROWN: I would say for a period of at least a couple of weeks, minimum, at least. So, you know, and we'll see. Obviously if we can get a different interpretation, we won't do it at all. But we're going to check on that. We'll -- it will at least be two weeks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Licenses>


Aired June 21, 2003 - 09:51   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: In the community of Peachtree City, Georgia, a court is putting the brakes on some kids in golf carts. The community near Atlanta has several miles of paved paths where golf carts rule. I know, I live there. I drive on one of those things. But some kids have been taking their carts onto city streets. A court says that's a no. No without a driver's license.
Roy Hobbs of affiliate WAGA has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROY HOBBS, REPORTER, WAGA-TV: They have 80 miles of golf paths in Peachtree City used by people 12 years old and up. That all changes because of a new state law.

MAYOR STEVE BROWN, PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA: Obviously it's devastating to Peachtree City to hear this type of news. It affects some of our teen drivers, it affects some of our senior citizens.

HOBBS: That's the mayor of Peachtree City telling council members you will now have to be a licensed driver to drive golf carts on the golf paths.

BROWN: We're mandated by state law to have the police go and enforce these laws. So obviously, if you have a teenage driver, we allow 12-year-olds to drive all the way up to the age of 15 with parental supervision. It's pretty easy to spot a 12-year-old driving a golf cart.

HOBBS: None of the teens I spoke with were happy about this new state law.

ANTHONY CASINI, 15-YEAR-OLD CART DRIVER: I don't like it. I like being able to go wherever I want on the golf cart.

HOBBS: It's the same for some other citizens here, and that's why city officials are concerned.

BROWN: We do have a situation, though, where we have seniors driving without driver's licenses, who can no longer drive a car. They utilize the carts as their only means of transportation. We have disabled citizens who use the carts as their only means of transportation. So there's a huge concern there.

HOBBS: However, since word of the change is just starting to trickle out, those who are in violation will get a break, they'll get a warning.

BROWN: I would say for a period of at least a couple of weeks, minimum, at least. So, you know, and we'll see. Obviously if we can get a different interpretation, we won't do it at all. But we're going to check on that. We'll -- it will at least be two weeks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com




Licenses>