hap

The warm morning breeze wafts through her shoulder-length hair as Broward Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips scoots to work in a navy-blue, orange-striped buggy that barely purrs and doesn't use a drop of gasoline.
Her colleague, Broward Circuit Judge Michael Orlando, catches the sun's rays as he cruises to the courthouse each day in his green mini-cart with a throaty Model-T-type horn.
The judges are part of a growing national trend toward using modified, legal versions of golf carts for short commutes. While the fanciest versions -- equipped with DVD players, custom paint jobs and flashy upholstery -- are toys for the rich, for others they're a practical way to get around town without emptying your pockets at the pump. ''When you leave for the day, you certainly leave your troubles behind when that wind hits you and you have a good ride home,'' said Phillips, who admits it's best to wear slacks while golf-carting to work.

Sometimes called ''neighborhood electric vehicles,'' the miniature cars operate on batteries. They vary in appearance, but many look like a sleeker version of a golf cart or some space-age toy out of The Jetsons.
At Golf Car Depot in Pompano Beach, customers typically pay between $5,000 and $8,000 for a new cart. Some order custom paint jobs in tie-dye or taxi-cab designs. Though some look post-modern, shop owner Jeff Blitman sees the vehicles -- which costs about two cents a mile to operate -- as a throwback.

''It's like the old days with horse and buggy where things were more friendly, everybody meets and greets in the street,'' he said.

Phillips, who is married to Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, got the idea of using her cart to commute to work while visiting the Bahamas, where the vehicles are commonly used for transportation.

Since she began commuting in the golf cart a year ago, she's gotten plenty of double-takes and thumbs-up signs.
''Most people thought it was really cool,'' said Phillips, who works in family court. 'People would say, `What is that? It looks like a golf cart -- but not really.' A couple people said, `Oh, you're nuts!'''

Orlando came down with a case of cart envy after seeing Phillips and others in Fort Lauderdale tool around in theirs. ''I thought that is a great way to solve the issue of being too close to drive but too far to walk or ride your bicycle,'' said Orlando, a juvenile court judge.

The former traffic magistrate researched the state's traffic laws and discovered he could use the cart on roads with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less.
Both judges registered their vehicles with the state, as required by law.

Orlando hit the road in his four-seat cart a few months ago.
''The first thing you notice is it's a very quiet form of transportation,'' said Orlando, who drops off two of his children at school before work.

The judges navigate their 10-to-15-minute commutes through traffic just like other motorists -- except it's much easier to squeeze into smaller parking spots.
The vehicles also came in handy after Hurricane Wilma. Phillips said she could weave in between fallen trees and broken glass and didn't have to wait in long gas lines.
Orlando plugs his in every night to keep it charged, while Phillips recharges hers about once a week. The judges estimate spending about $50 less a month on gasoline for their other vehicles by commuting to work in their electric buggies.

Like any method of transportation, the judges say it's important to drive safely.
''I came to work one day and one of the other judges was getting off a motorcycle and asked me if it was safe,'' Orlando said. ``I thought it was funny.''