By Angel Perkins Staff Writer
ARGOS — Argos residents who use golf carts to get around will have to follow some new regulations put into effect recently by the town. An ongoing issue presented by underaged or unlicensed drivers set a bad example, leading town officials to look into restrictions.
For several months the Argos Town Council members have researched area ordinances trying to decide which covered the issues they wanted to address, basing much of their final decision on a draft of the policy chosen recently by The town of Culver. At first, council members disagreed about the details.
    Member Valerie Harley disagreed with any registration fee, “Why should we penalize the retirees because someone else is breaking laws?” she asked.
Member Mark Umbaugh said, “”We pay to register our other vehicles. What’s the difference?”

    After much discussion and several meetings, an ordinance was unanimously agreed upon. Ordinance 2007-11, created to regulate the use of golf carts in the corporate limits of the town of Argos, states: “The Town Council believes that in order to help preserve the health and safety of its citizens, that it is necessary to regulate the use of golf carts on streets, roads, alleys and walkways within the Town limits.”
    Golf carts are now categorized as a slow-moving vehicle, along with pulled, towed, self-propelled and animal drawn vehicles that are normally not driven faster than 25 miles per hour. The ordinance states that all drivers must be licensed with the state as a driver and must have the license on their person at all times while operating the vehicle.
    Insurance coverage must also be provided and readily available for proof and it was noted at a previous meeting, that basic homeowner policies do not cover driving golf carts off a person’s own property. Amber or red flashing lights must be displayed after dusk and before dawn or “when headlamps are necessary for other motor vehicles,” and those lights must be visible at a distance of no less than 500 feet from the rear of the cart.
If the cart is operated at night or after dark, the vehicle must also have working headlights and tailights and all carts must have a rear-view mirror. Basic traffic laws are also included within the ordinance and are expected to be followed by cart drivers when they are not on their own, private property.
Those carts that are driven on town or public property must be registered for a $25 fee (paid to the Argos Police Department), renewable every four years. A sticker will be issued by the town to prove registration.
Citizens over the age of 60 are exempt from the registration fee but must still register the vehicle and have it approved for public traffic use. Those within the cart are also expected to be seated at all times and only the number of passengers that there are seats provided for can be on or in the vehilce.
Carts are also restricted from walking trails without prior approval from the park department’s chief operating officer. There is however, a loophole.
If a person cannot meet the criteria, they may make a written request to the town council for an excemption, stating the reasons why the guidelines can not be met and the council members can convene and choose to or not to waive the stipulations, and are expected to respond in writing.
Otherwise, fines for not following the ordinance will be issued by the police department beginning at $25 for the first offense,  $50 or the second and $75 for a third. If a person is cited for more than three violations of the ordinance, the owner will not longer be able to operate the vehicle within the town limits.