Town attorney Matt Terry will revise a draft of the ordinance for council’s review and possible action at next month’s meeting.

The golf cart issue has been in the works for several years and required special legislation by the state General Assembly. In April, House Bill 1483 was approved allowing golf carts to be driven in towns and cities beginning July 1, if the town adopts a local ordinance allowing it.

Provisions within the legislation require the driver of the golf cart to have a valid driver’s license and the vehicle must be insured. Also, carts are allowed only where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less. Carts and utility vehicles must have a revolving red or amber light or slow-moving-vehicle sign on the back.

Golf cart programs have been implemented in other areas of the Northern Neck including Colonial Beach, Corrotoman by the Bay subdivision, Morattico and Weems.

“It’s not a matter about whether they can drive golf carts or not, it’s only what is allowed,” said Mayor Alexander Fleet.

Resident Marsha Chapman objected to the use of carts on Route 200 because of safety concerns.

The town has never requested the Virginia Department of Transportation do a speed study of Route 200, said Chapman. She cited state codes that pertain to golf cart usage on through roads only “after considering speed, volume and character of traffic using the highway.”

Chapman compared Irvington to Colonial Beach, the location on which council patterned the draft ordinance.

In a 24-hour period, Colonial Beach, with a population of 3,228 residents, has 6,800 vehicles and 204 heavy trucks using Route 205 which goes around the town and not through it, she said.

By comparison, Irvington has just 20 percent of the population at 673 residents, but 93 percent of the vehicles at 6,300 and 60 percent of the heavy trucks at 126. Traffic runs through the center of Irvington on a road that involves two problem curves, she noted.

“Irvington is much smaller with much more traffic. And golf carts run 15 to 20 miles per hour at their top speed” while vehicles drive through the center of town at speeds faster than the posted limits, said Chapman. She also noted that Robert Harper and Sean Traponi at VDOT could not dispute the safety issues.

“Before allowing golf carts, order a speed study,” Chapman suggested. “Our compelling interest should be safety.”

Resident Jim Robertson defended the use of golf carts on public streets.

“There are maybe 15 to 20 golf carts around. It’s a busy road, but the carts are on the road late in the evening or on weekends. I’m for it,” he said.

Former council member Norm Mosher said he is aligned with the way Weems handles usage under the county ordinance, which follows state code exclusive of additional rules.

“I’ve been driving on Route 200 in my golf cart to the post office,” Mosher admitted. “The only (traffic) accident I’ve seen on the road was a head on collision in front of ChrisMart.”

Speaking on behalf of the planning commission, Bob Morrison said while the town planners don’t usually duck issues, they passed the golf cart ordinance on to council without a recommendation.

“When you have to put your name on it...we had a lot of second thoughts,” he said. Golf cart owners will follow whatever decision council makes, he said. “I understand the philosophy of Weems not to burden people with a lot of trappings.”

Morrison noted potential abuse of the three-passenger limit citing parents who drove to the Commons on Halloween with a large number of children hanging off the sides. “Do you have a chance of enforcing it?” he asked.

While council appeared to abandon the idea of requiring an annual inspection of golf carts and utility vehicles that use public roads, council member Dr. Robert Westbrook suggested an annual permit for a nominal fee, a requirement to know state and town codes and register all potential drivers. “It’s a privilege that can be rescinded,” when owners don’t comply, he said.

Terry reminded council it has to follow due process.

“The whole point of us doing this was because people were already using them on the road,” said vice-mayor Rannie Ransone.

Chapman said she isn’t against golf carts on town roads with the exception of Route 200, Irvington Road, because of safety.

“Closing off Route 200 is a deal-breaker,” said member Gene Edmonds. “You’d be making an island out of all these neighborhoods. Personal responsibility has to play a part in this. We have to be minimalists in this.”

Council member Kathleen Pollard wanted the privilege extended beyond the 25 mph zone to include all of Irvington, east to Old Mill Pond Road and north past Glebe Road. However, the idea died quickly when members said it took four years to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph on King Carter Drive.

While Westbrook pushed to pass the ordinance that evening, Edmonds objected until the changes were incorporated into the text. Council postponed a vote on the issue until next month.