Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vehicle Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident challenges Sharonville golf‑cart ban, urged to seek change through law committee
Summary
At the Sept. 9 meeting a resident whose vehicle is titled as a low‑speed vehicle urged council to amend the local ordinance rather than accept a city buyout; the law director advised pursuing change through the Law & Public Safety Committee and noted state statutory limits.
George Brasher, a resident who said his vehicle is a registered, titled low‑speed vehicle (LSV), urged Sharonville City Council on Sept. 9 to change the city’s prohibition on golf carts and similar vehicles rather than accept an offered buyout or pursue legal action.
"The ordinance makes no sense," Brasher told council, saying his vehicle meets Ohio requirements for LSVs — titled, registered, plated, insured and equipped with lighting and seat belts. He said the police informed him last week that golf carts are not allowed and that city staff had offered him a buyout for the vehicle. Brasher said he preferred an ordinance amendment to a buyout or litigation.
Law Director Charles Lippert responded that the correct path for seeking change is the Law & Public Safety Committee and provided scheduling details: the committee meets two weeks from the council session at 5:00 p.m. He noted that the Ohio Revised Code constrains municipal authorization of certain vehicles and that local ordinances may only allow exceptions where state law permits. Lippert also said some exemptions for police, fire, parks and public works vehicles are provided under state law, so municipal operations may continue under those exceptions even if a general allowance is not adopted.
Brasher said he would contact his ward representative, Councilman Tankersley, and said he would wait until the law committee meeting before deciding whether to accept a buyout or pursue legal options. Lippert advised residents seeking change to petition committee inclusion or to appear at the law committee meeting with supporting detail.
The council did not take formal action on the golf-cart/LSV issue at the meeting; Law Director Lippert's advice established the procedural route for potential ordinance change.
Next steps: resident follow-up with Councilman Tankersley and potential Law & Public Safety Committee consideration in two weeks.
