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Council urges enforcement, education after reports of unsafe golf-cart use in Vero Beach
Summary
Council member Carroll said the city has a solid low-speed-vehicle ordinance but that violations — carts operating outside designated streets and passengers exceeding seats — persist; council directed staff to work with police on enforcement and public education.
Council member Carroll told the Feb. 11 Vero Beach City Council that enforcement and education are needed to address continued violations of the city's low-speed-vehicle (LSV) and golf-cart ordinance.
Carroll said the ordinance has a clear map of streets where LSVs are allowed but that residents report carts operating outside those areas, including in the Rimark Country Club and Vero Beach Country Club neighborhoods and, in one instance, a cart observed at a Miracle Mile Publix. Carroll summarized the principal complaints as operation outside designated streets and occupants exceeding seats — "kids sitting on laps, kids holding on to the roof supports" — and urged more enforcement before someone gets injured.
Council direction and staff response
Carroll asked staff to coordinate with the police chief on enforcement and suggested an education push through utility-bill inserts and the city's social-media channels. Vice Mayor Moore and other members agreed on the need for both education and enforcement. Staff said they will meet with the chief and consider flyers or social-media outreach; Carroll urged citizens who witness violations to call the police non-emergency line so officers can be dispatched.
Why it matters
The city’s ordinance allows LSVs on designated streets but not on all neighborhood roads. Council members framed the issue as public-safety risk that is manageable through better enforcement and public education rather than changes to the ordinance itself. No formal code amendment or new enforcement program was adopted at this meeting; staff follow-up was requested.
