Gulf County moves to fast-track ordinance to boot dormant golf carts after residents flag safety concerns

Residents and commissioners pressed Gulf County leaders to address safety problems from rental golf carts crossing Highway 98 and children riding electric scooters on busy roads. Sarah Hudson of St. Joe Beach urged law-enforcement presence rather than buying signs, saying signs alone are not an effective use of tax dollars.

County leaders and staff discussed enforcement limitations under state law: the sheriff explained officers must observe a crossing to issue a ticket and that many golf carts lack tags that would allow tracing an owner. The sheriff said staffing shortages limit enforcement capacity but that three deputies are expected from the academy soon and that he will start providing statistics on traffic stops related to golf carts and vehicles.

Counselor Novak confirmed she has been working on an ordinance. Commissioners discussed options including targeted signage, creating a single controlled crossing for golf carts to access Windmark, fines or a booting mechanism for dormant carts parked in right-of-way, and an emergency adoption to ensure enforcement is available before summer.

The sheriff said the county will advertise an emergency adoption of the ordinance at the next meeting in April so the ordinance is in place for the summer season. No final ordinance text or vote was recorded at the special meeting. Commissioners asked staff and the sheriff to return with enforceable language and options for public communication.