In April, the Greenwood Police Department began a crackdown on juveniles riding ATVs and golf carts on city streets and rights-of-way during daylight hours.
With school letting out for the summer, a new situation has come up.
At 1 a.m. Monday, police received a report of a golf cart with 12 young people on it that didn’t have lights, Police Chief Henry Purnell said. By the time officers arrived, those in the cart had sped away.
“A motorist almost had an accident with them,” Purnell said.
The chief said greater police patrols are planned for North Greenwood in order to discourage the activity.
City ordinances prohibit the operation of ATVs, golf carts, mini-bikes and other unlicensed, uninsured motor vehicles on city streets or city-owned property, such as parks and playgrounds.
Such vehicles also are also not to be operated on the levees, he said.
On Sunday night and early Monday morning several fires were set in garbage boxes and cardboard bales throughout North Greenwood’s commercial district. The chief says the increased use of off-road vehicles on the city’s streets is part of that general lawlessness.
“When school is out, they do mischievous things,” Purnell said.
The chief encouraged parents to make a greater effort to keep the keys to such vehicles out of reach of youngsters.
If necessary, the department will begin impounding ATVs and golf carts that are being operated on city streets.
Greenwood Mayor Carolyn McAdams said the effort isn’t intended to punish youngsters.
“We don’t want to see anyone injured or hurt because they weren’t abiding by the law,” she said.
• Contact Bob Darden at bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
