FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Mooresville Police Department is working to educate the public — and hopefully save lives — after three teens avoided serious injury when a golf cart they were traveling in collided with a Range Rover earlier this summer.
“They were lucky. They were not wearing seat belts when they got hit by a 5,000-pound vehicle,” Sgt. Jeremy Dingler said.
THE CRASH
On July 19, about 10:08 p.m., MPD officers responded to the intersection of Elizabeth Hearth Drive and Harris Village Drive in response to a report of a crash involving a golf cart and another vehicle.
A non-street legal unregistered golf cart with no operational lighting other than a shop light that was taped to the golf cart was found in the roadway, police said.
The golf cart was being driven by a juvenile with two juveniles as passengers, according to an MPD news release. The golf cart was hit by an SUV vehicle attempting to make a left turn. The driver did not see the golf cart due to it having no operational lighting, police said.
After the MPD Traffic Unit responded to the scene, crash investigators determined that the driver of the Range Rover committed no motor vehicle violations and was not at fault in the collision.
The three juveniles in the golf cart were transported to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte for treatment for minor injuries. The driver of the motor vehicle was not injured.
After the investigation was completed, Traffic Unit officers consulted with the District Attorney’s Office before citing the owner of the golf cart, Michael Wilson, with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and failure to register a vehicle.
“I don’t understand why a parent would think it’s okay for a 13-year-old to drive on a roadway — even if it’s in a neighborhood,” Sgt. Dingler said.
THE LAW
The MPD has received numerous complaints about teenagers operating golf carts in neighborhoods throughout the town.
According to state law, it is illegal to operate a golf cart on roadways in North Carolina unless the vehicle is classified as a Low-Speed Vehicle.
Low-Speed Vehicles may be operated only on streets and highways where the posted speed limit is 35 mph or less but may cross a road or street at an intersection where the road or street being crossed has a posted speed limit of more than 35 mph.
Low-Speed Vehicles must be equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, tail lamps, reflex reflectors, parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, windshield wipers, speedometer, seat belts, and a vehicle identification number. Any such required equipment shall be maintained in proper working order.
A Low-Speed Vehicle must be registered with the N.C. Department of Transportation and insured in accordance with G.S. 20-50 and G.S. 20-309.
The MPD hopes to raise awareness by sharing information about the relevant law with parents.
“You’ve got to be responsible,” Dingler said. “You’ve go to know the laws. These neighborhood roads have the same laws as Highway 150.”