Street patrols keep an eye on skateboarders

In Laguna Beach, rules call for the wearing of helmets and ban board use on certain streets.

April 11, 2013|By Bryce Alderton

Laguna Beach Civilian Officer Fred Casas, center, informs… (KEVIN CHANG )

Driving along Cliff Drive on a recent Monday, Laguna Beach civilian officer Alfred Casas spotted a 19-year-old holding a skateboard.

Casas, 6-foot-4 and burly, calmly approached the man and respectfully asked if he knew about a city ordinance that requires skateboarders, regardless of age, to wear helmets.

"I wasn't riding the board, so I didn't think I needed a helmet," said the skater, who identified himself only as John.

Casas, who retired from the Fullerton Police Department in 2010 after 36 years in law enforcement, accepted the explanation before going into the ordinance's specifics. Casas then handed the teen a copy of the law and headed back to his car.

"People are shocked that [Laguna Beach] requires helmets on adults," says Casas, who patrols city streets twice a week. "Most juveniles are aware of the rules. Kids get the word out."

Of 213 skateboard-related violations issue by police from 2010 through March 14, more than half, 129, were given to boarders ages 13 to 19, police data shows.

Even though statistics show that the majority of skateboarders receiving tickets are teenagers, Casas sees more adults violating the city's helmet law; about two-thirds of them say they use skateboards to get to work.

The City Council recently adjusted the helmet law, enacting the latest addition to city skateboard regulations. The requirement to wear a helmet, whether adult or child, was part of the original skateboard ordinance passed in 2011. But now an officer can confiscate the board for a specific period of time if the owner is caught not wearing a helmet.

"We don't want to make the day miserable for someone," Casas said, "and we're not using [skateboarding fines] as a revenue generator. We're concerned for the safety of citizens and visitors."

The base fine for a first violation, regardless of the type of offense — skateboarding down banned streets, not wearing a helmet or boarding on prohibited public areas like some sidewalks or stair rails — is $25. The cost rises to $50 for a second violation and $100 for third and subsequent violations. Additional fines are possible if a person contests a violation in court but loses the appeal.

Streets where skateboarding is prohibited include Temple Hills, Skyline and Crestview drives. The ban includes certain sidewalks as well.

Casas said he sees a lot of skateboarders failing to stop at stop signs. And then there are the skateboarders who are occupied with another task while they are on their boards.

1 | 2 | 3 | Next

|

|

|