Golf buggies tee off residents

Bulgarra residents are teed off with local golfers using buggies on roads and footpaths surrounding Karratha Country Club.

In recent weeks, City rangers have received complaints from Bulgarra residents about the buggies being driven "inappropriately" on footpaths and roads to and from the golf club.

City of Karratha director development services David Pentz urged residents who enjoyed the use of their own golf buggy to ensure they considered the dangers of driving on-road and transported buggies appropriately.

"While it is against the local by-laws to drive on footpaths and an offence against the Traffic Act to drive unlicensed vehicles on gazetted roads, it's also a safety risk to offenders and pedestrians," he said.

"The City of Karratha and the WA Police take the driving (of) vehicles in non-permitted areas seriously and may seize the vehicle, prosecute offenders or issue infringements."

In the City it is illegal to ride an unlicensed off-road vehicle in public areas, reserves, parks, beaches, dunes, drainage areas, roads, footpaths, carparks and verges.

Off-road vehicles are permitted on private property with the land owner's permission, off-road clubs, some unallocated land, and in off-road areas set up by the City.

Earlier this year a joint operation by police and City rangers targeted off-road vehicles.

Karratha police Senior Sergeant Geoff Cramp said they were still targeting the behaviour.

"No unlicensed vehicle should be on the road," he said.

"We will conduct relevant inquires into this matter and if we receive information about the misuse of buggies on the road or footpaths we will target those vehicles accordingly."

Karratha Golf Club president Neil Eichorn said it was up to individual members to get golf buggies registered for the road and drive responsibly to and from the club.

In certain circumstances the Department of Transport will grant licenses for off-road vehicles, if there is a legitimate need to access or cross public roads.

Illegal off-road vehicle activity can be reported to Karratha police on 9143 7200, the rangers on 9186 8555 or via the City of Karratha's website.