As pledged last summer, legislation to allow unlicensed drivers to operate

golf carts throughout Peachtree City was introduced with the start of

the General Assembly on Monday and is already on a fast track to approval,

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland said.

"It has been assigned to committee," said Westmoreland of the

change in state code he and Sen. Mitch Seabaugh "pre-introduced"

last week.

Westmoreland said the proposal had "first read" and was assigned

to committee on Monday, the opening day of the 40-day session.

The language of the bill, endorsed by the Peachtree City Council in the

fall and written with the advice of the city attorney, applies to any

Georgia municipality, Westmoreland said.

"We're changing the definition of what a roadway is and a golf

cart is, statewide," said the Republican from Sharpsburg. "That

will allow cities and counties to develop their own fees or rules of the

road as they apply to operating golf carts on public streets."

"All we're doing is giving cities the authority to establish

their own rules on this," Westmoreland said.

But clearly, the bill is meant to pave the way for Peachtree City to

again grant cart privileges to two groups: Under-16 teens and senior citizens

without licenses.

Both were left stranded last spring when a court ruled the city's

policy on unlicensed cart drivers was illegal, abruptly ending a popular

perk in the community.

Mayor Steve Brown was confident the law would move through the process

with ease, saying he knew of no opposition from any corner.

"We're anticipating that it's going to go smoothly, mainly

because there's nothing controversial about it," said Brown.

"We're just wanting to continue what we've been doing for

30 years."

Brown said Florida already has similar laws relating to golf carts, so

what Peachtree City is asking for isn't unprecedented.

"We wouldn't be the first state to do this," he said.

Brown said he had discussed the issue with Gov. Sonny Perdue's staff

and got assurances he would sign the bill once it came across his desk.

Though the legislation does have statewide impact, the bill won't

have to wait until July 1 to become law as is usually the case, Westmoreland

said.

"Written into the bill is language that would make it effective

as soon as the governor puts his signature to it," he said.

Westmoreland wouldn't speculate how quickly that might be, but noted

that both houses of the General Assembly and the governor will be embroiled

in budget debates starting today, when Gov. Perdue presents his "State

of the State" address and budget plan for 2005.

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