A persistent panhandler was arrested for driving with a suspended license when he was spotted driving a golf cart on a public roadway.
A deputy observed a golf cart being driven by 40-year-old Eric Linville Manning of Summerfield westbound on Southeast Sunset Harbor Road at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy was also headed west at that time, so due to traffic, he had to take Southeast 95th Court northbound to turn around.
As he did so, the deputy saw Manning cross Southeast Sunset Harbor Road northbound and continued to travel west. The report noted the road was not a golf cart designated area. The golf cart also did not have any working lights, and it did not have a visible license plate attached to it.
Once the deputy got turned around, he made a traffic stop on the golf cart at 9701 SE Sunset Harbor Road. He then approached Manning, who served jail time recently after persistently panhandling at a local Circle K. The deputy knew Manning did not have a valid driver’s license. A computer check of his name confirmed he had not had a valid license since 2016 when it was cancelled indefinitely, the report said.
The report also noted Manning had two previous convictions for driving without a license regarding a ticket he received in Marion County on Feb. 1, 2007. He was convicted for it along with another Marion County ticket from Feb. 19, 2007.
While speaking with law enforcement, Manning admitted to not having a driver’s license. He was not familiar with the limited restrictions for golf carts and assumed he could drive it on a public roadway. He also admitted to having crossed Southeast Sunset Harbor Road to go from the south to the north side of the road, the report said.
Manning was arrested on charge of driving while license suspended/revoked/cancelled (second or subsequent conviction). He was transported to Lake County Jail with bond set at $1,000.