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There's a renewed debate about riding golf carts in rural parts of Palm Beach County

Posted at 6:47 PM, Mar 01, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-01 18:47:50-05

JUPITER FARMS, Fla. -- The only place you’ll see Tripp Taylor riding his golf cart these days is in his yard on Mellen Lane. “Yeah just keep it in the yard from here on out," said Taylor.

A few weeks ago a sheriff's deputy gave Taylor a warning for driving his cart on the sidewalk in Jupiter Farms.

The cart doesn't have modifications to make it Florida Department of Transportation-approved street legal.

Like many, Taylor says driving carts like his on sidewalks and the road is a normal way of life in Jupiter Farms.

"Why I purchased property out here. Kind of more laid back, more family, more country here in Palm Beach County. I've learned otherwise," said Taylor.

Taylor posted about the stop on a Jupiter Farms Facebook group.

The post took off, with hundreds of comments and seemed to reopen what the sheriff's office calls "an ongoing problem" in that part of the county.

The sheriff's office tells WPTV patrols are now stepped-up and a sign warning "no golf carts or tickets will be issued" sits on Indiantown Road, just west of Jupiter Farms Road.

Converting carts to street legal is now keeping Rich Altamura busy at Jupiter Golf Carts

"I'd say the ratio from even a few years ago, it's quadrupled," said Altamura.

Making the necessary add-ons could easily be more than $1,000 according to Altamura.

"Time you're said and done and put that tag on it's expensive and a lot of people are shocked over that. But it's a reality if you want to drive a golf cart," said Altamura.

Click here for the standards a golf cart must meet in order to be street legal.