The Pinehurst Village Council is asking the state to allow golf carts on public streets.
PINEHURST -- The Pinehurst Village Council is asking the state to allow golf carts on public streets. It is currently against the state law to drive golf carts on public roads.
Jim Justman has been breaking the law for the past fourteen years. "I didn't even know it was against the law until recently,” he said in defense.
Peter Halowack doesn't like the council's plan to make it legal to drive golf carts on the roads for one reason: Traffic.
The council voted to ask the General Assembly for an exemption to the law. Rep. Joe Boylan is expected to introduce the legislation in May. Once it is passed by the state, the village would allow golf carts on select streets.
Pinehurst argues there is a need because many people like Elsie Justman are already using the roads safely.
"We have driven it safely in that we are careful when we are on the roads,” she explained. “We don't have to go on the main roads too much."
It is currently against the state law to drive golf carts on public roads.
The village says the main reason for this proposal is they would like to see golf carts off the major roads with fast moving traffic, instead they would like to see them in neighborhoods with speed limits under 35 miles per hour.
Andy Wilkison, the village manager, says the carts are not to be used for other reasons.
"We are only going to allow people to use golf carts to go to and from the golf course for playing golf. Not going to the post office, the store, or visit their neighbors," he said.
He sees the proposal as a natural step for the village, "We are a golf course community. We always will be. It is good for the resort, it is safer for the citizens."
The Justmans say the carts keep the village and resort running smoothly.