HOLMES BEACH – Drivers may soon have to slow down when traveling through Holmes Beach and it won’t be because of the low-speed vehicles that travel on city streets.
Commissioners considered a proposal to lower the speed limit on all city streets to 25 mph at a Jan. 25 work session, agreeing to move the proposed ordinance forward to a regular meeting for a public hearing and the first of two votes.
If the measure passes both votes by commissioners, the 25 mph speed limit will apply to all city streets, but not the two state roads located in Holmes Beach, which are governed by the state of Florida. The speed limits on Manatee Avenue and on East Bay Drive will remain the same unless changed by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The idea was floated by Police Chief Bill Tokajer in response to safety concerns about speeding vehicles on city streets and the potential hazards to pedestrians, bicyclists and operators of golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs).
An LSV is a mini car, golf cart or other type of lower speed vehicle that is required to be registered with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles to be street legal. Most travel at a top speed of 25-30 mph. A golf cart is a traditional golf cart meant for use on a golf course that is not required to be registered through the DMV and travels at a maximum speed lower than 25 mph. City Attorney Erica Augello said that once a golf cart exceeds 20 mph, it is technically considered an LSV.
Issues that officers are seeing on Holmes Beach roadways include LSV drivers pulling over into bicycle lanes to allow motor vehicles to pass them, drivers traveling faster than the posted speed limit and golf carts traveling on roads with 35 mph speed limits, where they’re not allowed.
By lowering the speed limit citywide to 25 mph, Tokajer said it would ease sign pollution, make it easier for drivers of all kinds to know what the speed limit is, especially on Palm/Marina drives where it changes every few blocks, reduce confusion about where LSVs are allowed to be operated and allow officers to focus their enforcement efforts on keeping LSVs and golf carts off Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive.
Commissioners will consider the ordinance at an upcoming meeting not yet scheduled.
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