LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — New video shows how high-resolution cameras are now helping officials in The Villages crack down on golf cart drivers who crash into entrance gates, breaking them, and drive off.
"I think a lot of people tailgate through the gate and I've seen that," said resident Carol Baker.
Channel 9's Myrt Price learned that the gates can cost up to $1,000 to repair.
"You see the gates broken all the time, " said resident June Cook.
Villages officials said in 2013 they billed 25 people for gate repairs.
Officials have been installing new high-tech cameras that are able to capture clear video of the gate crashers.
So far The Villages has added around 150 of the new cameras, and officials said they are serving their purpose.
They are able to clearly make out license plate numbers on cars that strike the gates, something they could not do in the past.
They have even posted some of the videos of the golf cart gate crashers on their website, hoping someone would recognize the drivers and call the authorities.
Officials said they believe the cost of the cameras will quickly be recouped as the number of broken gates declines.
"I think if people just slowed down and took their time -- we live here in The Villages because we are retired, we want to have a great time. Chill out and slow down," said resident Paige Udell.
With the old video system, officials would have to go to each gatehouse to collect videos. The new systems allows all of the cameras and videos to be monitored from a central location.