Lorraine Barton had used the golf cart to cover the few blocks between her home and the Tilden Post Office to retrieve her mail. On her way back, Police Chief Bobbie Jo Helmers attempted to pull her over for driving an unauthorized vehicle -- and the vehicles collided, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.
Barton said the mayor of the small Southern Illinois town gave her permission last year to use the motorized machine for local errands as a way to save gas. The newspaper said Mayor Don Keeton denied granting Barton's golf cart on-road privileges.
Helmers said Barton agreed to pay for the damage to the squad car. As long as the golf cart stays off the road or becomes an insured on-road vehicle, she shouldn't have any more trouble with the police.