08/14/2026
Public Safety and Our Children
Citizens of Central:
A few weeks ago, I posted that one of my public safety priorities was going to be addressing vehicles that cannot legally be operated on our public streets, specifically side-by-sides, four-wheelers, golf carts, and similar vehicles. These vehicles can pose a significant threat to public safety, particularly when operated by children.
That announcement was met by criticism from some who felt that I was focusing on harmless activities rather than addressing the “real crime” in our community.
Unfortunately, today, one of the concerns I expressed became a reality.
I cannot provide identifying information, but today a 12-year-old child in our community was involved in a crash while operating a golf cart on a public street.
Let me be clear: there was no intent to disregard the law or place anyone in danger. The child had gone to the end of her driveway to meet a sibling getting off a school bus. When she reached the end of the driveway, she became concerned that she could not safely turn the golf cart around to return home. She therefore traveled a short distance down the road in an attempt to make the turn.
As she did so, a vehicle traveling on the highway approached from behind. The child became frightened and panicked, ultimately losing control of the golf cart and crashing. Both children were injured. Thankfully, neither sustained life-threatening injuries.
This is exactly why I raised this issue in the first place.
My concern has never been about punishing children or families for simply enjoying these types of vehicles. It is about recognizing that vehicles designed for off-road use can become extremely dangerous when operated on public streets, particularly by young and inexperienced drivers.
Before anyone is quick to criticize the parents or assume that this was simply a failure to supervise their children, let me assure you that this was not a case of parents intentionally putting their children in danger. Sometimes, despite the best intentions, an innocent decision can have serious consequences.
Today, we were fortunate. This incident could have ended very differently.
As a police department, we have a responsibility to identify potential dangers before they result in tragedy—not simply respond after something happens. For that reason, you should expect our officers to continue placing additional emphasis on enforcing the laws governing the operation of these vehicles on public streets.
My goal is simple: to prevent an injury or death before it happens.
I will continue to do everything I can to keep the citizens of Central safe, and especially to protect our children.
Chief Roger Corcoran
