Lompoc Municipal Code Ch. 10.48 Skateboards

A. Definitions.

For the purposes of this section, "skateboard"

means a vehicle, device, or conveyance with any number of wheels and a riding surface of any design, specifically including roller skates. in-line skates, and scooters, upon which a person may place one or more feet, and which is designed to be or can be propelled by the operator's human power or by gravitational force. Skateboard does not include bicycles.

"Skateboard park"

means any facility that is designed and maintained for the purpose of recreational skateboard use.

B. It is unlawful for any person to skate, use, or ride any skateboard, on or over any public street, bridge, underpass, park, public pedestrian walkway, bicycle lane, publicly owned parking facility, or property zoned for commercial use, in violation of Subsections (B)(1) through (7) of this Section. Nothing in this Subsection shall be construed to prohibit riding skateboards on public sidewalks, in compliance with Subsections (B)(2), (3), (5) and (6) of this Section.

1. Persons riding skateboards on streets shall ride as near to the right side of the street as possible.

2. No person riding a skateboard shall attach the same or him or herself to any other vehicle.

3. Persons riding skateboards shall yield the right-of-way to all motor vehicles and pedestrians. At the intersection of two or more sidewalks, where the vision of the skateboard operator is restricted by hedges, bushes, buildings, or any other obstruction so that a pedestrian's approach cannot be observed and there is danger of a collision with a pedestrian, the skateboard operator shall dismount and walk through the intersection of sidewalks.

Exception: Persons wearing roller skates and in-line skates shall yield the right-of-way to motor vehicles and pedestrians, but are not required to remove their skates and walk through sidewalk intersections.

4. No person shall ride a skateboard upon or when approaching the crest of a grade or a curve in a street, where the view of the skateboard operator is obstructed so as to create a hazard from an approaching motor vehicle.

5. Skateboard use shall not occur after sunset of one day and before sunrise of the following day, unless the skateboard operator is wearing reflective material or operating a skateboard at a lighted skateboard park.

6. No person shall operate, use, or strike a skateboard against, onto, or upon the side of buildings, fences, steps, benches, walls, or similar objects.

7. Except as provided above, any person riding a skateboard is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, as such regulations apply to a rider of a bicycle, pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 21200.

C. Notwithstanding Subsection B of this Section, it shall be unlawful for any person to skate, use, operate. or ride any skateboard, or similar device on or over any privately owned sidewalk, pedestrian walkway, alleyway, roadway, or parking lot; provided, however, that this prohibition is not effective unless signs prohibiting such conduct are conspicuously posted at each end of the area to which this prohibition is to apply.

D. No person shall ride a skateboard at any skateboard park owned or operated by the City, whether supervised or not, unless that person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. The Parks and Recreation Director shall erect and maintain visible regulatory signs at all skateboard parks owned and operated by the City. Such signs shall afford notice that any person riding a skateboard at the facility at any time is required by law to wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads, and that any person failing to do so will be subject to citation under this Section of the Lompoc Municipal Code.

(Prior code § 2016.6)