Golf carts on side streets gain momentum in south, southwest suburbs
Karl Magda, a village of New Lenox mechanic, has had his E-Z Go golf cart for five years. Initially, Magda said he’d drive his golf cart on camping trips or around his neighborhood.
When New Lenox passed a golf cart ordinance in 2021, Magda said he was one of the first people to get a permit.
“Once it passed, I was so excited,” Magda said. “It’s nice to get in your golf cart and drive.”
As Crete considers a golf cart ordinance, officials in New Lenox, Homer Glen, Peotone and Posen share how their golf cart ordinances have been received by residents.
The ordinances include a definition of a golf cart, speed limit restrictions, roads where they can and cannot be driven and specify safety elements golf carts should have, like lights and seat belts. Under Illinois law, golf carts can’t be driven on state or county roads.
The ordinances also require registering the golf cart with police, which typically includes an inspection, and require the driver to have a valid driver’s license.
Crete Trustee John Phelan drafted an ordinance the Village Board has discussed. Phelan made the decision because while vacationing, like in Alabama, he’s seen residents use golf carts, particularly to go to local businesses.
“We’ve had our share of businesses struggling in Crete, maybe it’s a way to bring things together,” Phelan said.
Phelan said he found Peotone, New Lenox, Manteno, Monee and Beecher all have golf cart ordinances. Phelan said he worked with the village attorneys to craft an ordinance to address speed limits, safety features and road restrictions.
The Crete Village Board discussed the ordinance March 25 but did not vote on it, Phelan said. Based on the discussion, Phelan said the vote would be 4-3 either for or against.
“It sounds like it’s pretty evenly split,” Phelan said.
Crete police Chief Scott Pieritz wrote a letter to trustees expressing his opposition to based on safety concerns.
“Crete often gets complaints of speeders, reckless driving, drunk driving and other dangerous driving,” Pieritz wrote. “Adding golf carts to our roadways would likely increase calls for service and expose golf cart drivers to these dangers.”
Pieritz also said because golf carts are prohibited on Steger Road, Main Street, Route 394 and Exchange Street, given the speed limits, residents living on those streets wouldn’t be able them..
Phelan said when talking to village officials in other towns, nobody reported major accidents. While it would be a challenge for some residents based on where they live, Phelan said he foresees residents mainly ride in their immediate neighborhood.
From what he’s heard, Phelan said residents who live in areas allowing golf cart use, they are driven down the street to the ice cream shop or a few blocks over to watch their children play sports. Some villages have golf cart parades, which bring the community together and can benefit businesses, he said.
“We’re trying to take the best of the best from all the surrounding communities and incorporate it into an ordinance for Crete,” Phelan said.
Crete Mayor Michael Einhorn said the board has been split as some trustees see more problems than value. Einhorn said he has some concerns about people following the rules.
“We have a hard time getting people to follow traffic regulations now, and that’s of concern,” Einhorn said. “The biggest problem is, in my estimation, getting the public, if they have a golf cart, to follow the rules.”
New Lenox passed its ordinance in September 2021, and within the first eight months 15 people registered their golf carts, according to New Lenox Police Department data. In 2023, 41 people registered golf carts, according to the data.
New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann said the village decided to adopt an ordinance because a few residents were driving their golf carts around their subdivisions and expressed their support.
“We work for the people. This was something that a lot of people talked about,” Baldermann said. “It allows people to do what they’d like to do with safety parameters.”
Baldermann said no one has been cited since the ordinance was implemented, though two people were denied a permit because their golf carts didn’t meet safety requirements.
In his neighborhood, Baldermann said he’s seen six different residents drive around in golf carts.
“I’ve seen more golf carts in my neighborhood than motorcycles,” Baldermann said.
Magda said he’s driven his golf cart to Walmart for groceries, El Burrito Loco for dinner and around the neighborhood.
“You can observe everything around you,” Magda said.
While Magda appreciates the village’s golf cart ordinance, he said one minor change he would support is to allow the out past sundown, though he said he understands why that rule is there.
“It’d be nice if we could stay out a little longer, but I’m not going to push the issue,” Magda said.
The Posen Village Board approved an ordinance in May 2023 to allow golf carts on side streets within the 1.1 square mile of the village.
Since then, six people have registered golf carts, said Mayor Frank Podbielniak. As the weather improves, the village will promote the golf cart permits more, he said.
“I’m hoping it picks up soon because we have an ice cream shop coming, and a local taco shop,” Podbielniak said.
In Peotone, the Village Board is amending its ordinance to decrease the cost of a golf cart sticker, because it is the same price as a car sticker, or $30, said police Chief David DeMik.
Since the ordinance was approved in May 2008, DeMik said 70 people have registered.
“Golf cart riders go to our downtown area. They go there quite a bit on them,” DeMik said.
Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Torike said shortly after she was elected in 2023 the village drafted an ordinance that mainly addressed the use of ATVs and dirt bikes. While that ordinance was discussed, the village decided to amend its golf cart ordinance to be less restrictive, she said.
The village’s previous ordinance was so restrictive many interpreted it as prohibiting some larger motor-powered children’s toys, she said. Since 2023, three people have received golf cart permits, she said.
“It was a clean up process from what we had before,” Neitzke-Torike said.
Magda said it’s really enjoyable to go out on a golf cart on a warm night as opposed to driving a car.
“It’s a different experience,” Magda said. “A steady pace wins the race.”
