"We want

to make everyone aware that certain aspects of the Teenage Drivers Responsibility

Act can apply to golf carts and can affect a teenager's ability to obtain

and hold a drivers license in the state," said Brown.

Last September,

the City Council approved 15-year-olds with learners permits operating

golf carts unsupervised.

"While

many of our teens are operating golf carts responsibly, some are giving

the entire group a bad name and causing complaints to be issued to the

Police Department and City Hall," said Brown.

Due to the

number of complaints, and the concern that complaints will increase as

the weather warms and provides more opportunity for golf cart driving,

the Police Department will be taking enforcement action against all golf

cart drivers who operate the vehicles in a reckless or unsafe manner.

Previously, Mayor Brown or the Police Department personally contacted

the parents of teens reported for improper cart operation.

Brown also

cautioned drivers about operating carts on local ballfields, saying, "We

cannot tolerate this behavior. Restoring the damaged turf on our fields

is costing thousands of tax dollars."

Brown urges

parents of teens to become more involved and teach them the rules of safe

motor vehicle operation prior to allowing them to operate a golf cart

unsupervised. "These vehicles can injure both the operator and innocent

bystanders," he said. "Parents need to emphasize that teens

can lose a drivers license and their ability to obtain their license when

they turn sixteen if they misuse the privilege of operating a golf cart."

Brown concluded

the Police Department issuing citations for these problems."