The growing popularity and proliferation of golf carts on the streets of Chesterton prompted a re-examination of the town’s regulation of the vehicles for the first time in 16 years.
Chesterton’s Police Commission on Thursday for the second month in a row reviewed a draft of the new ordinance. The Town Council charged the commission with the task of reviewing the old ordinance.
A draft, with its list of recommendations for changes that mostly deal with safety issues, will now be forwarded on to the Town Council and Town Attorney.
Police Chief Tim Richardson said one of the recommendations is to tighten the requirement of safety belts for golf carts.
It’s likely the new ordinance will also spell out that there must be a seat for every passenger.
Commission member Peter Duda said that the old ordinance gave a golf cart owner the option of having a triangle placard warning of a slow vehicle or working tail lights.
Duda said he would like to see both the placard and working taillights on the back of a cart be required. He said the ordinance would also require lights for the cart, even if it is only operated during daylight hours.
The operator of a golf cart should also have their driver’s license and proof of insurance on them when they are on the street, Duda said.
In other business, Richardson told the commission that Lt. David Virijevich returned to work on Sept. 6 and Officer Nolan Mancera is expected to be back by the month’s end.
The two Chesterton police officers were placed on paid leave after the June 18 shootout on Gateway Boulevard in front of the Hilton Garden. An Indiana State Police investigation and the Porter County Prosecutor’s office found that the two officers were justified in shooting Joseph Gerber, 45, who fired first and wounded Mancera. Gerber died when he shot himself in the head.
The commission also approved arrangements for the annual downtown business Trick or Treat event sponsored by the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, set for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24.
Broadway will be closed between Calumet Road and 4th Street and on 2nd and 3rd streets to Indiana Avenue a half-hour before and after the event.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
