Soledad Municipal Code Ch. 10.10 Skateboards

This chapter shall apply to the use and operation of skateboards on all streets, alleys, sidewalks, and rights-of-way in the city, whether public or private, and all other property owned by the city, and upon private property.

(Ord. 505 § 1 (Exbt. A) (part), 1991)

As used in this chapter:

A. "Skateboard" means any vehicle, device or conveyance with any number of wheels, with a riding surface of any design, upon which a person may place one or more feet, and which is designed to be, or can be, propelled by human power, and which is not defined as a bicycle by the California Vehicle Code. The term "skateboard" also includes motorized skateboards.

B. "Central business district" means the area within the city bounded by Front Street, West Street, Monterey Street and Park Street, including the entire surface of each such street, as well as the sidewalks abutting on or adjacent to each such street.

C. "Highway commercial district" means the area within the city which is designated as highway commercial district on the zoning map of the city.

(Ord. 505 § 1 (Exbt. A) (part), 1991)

A. Use Prohibited in Business District and Highway Commercial District and on Public Property. It is unlawful for any person to ride upon any skateboard upon any sidewalk, roadway or public right-of-way within the central business district, highway commercial district, or any other business district within the city as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 235, or upon any lands, property or facilities owned or controlled by the city, or upon any private property within the central business district or the highway commercial district without the prior written permission of the owner, lessee or other person having control of such property.

B. Use Permitted in Residential Areas. The riding of skateboards shall be permitted, within the limits set forth elsewhere in this chapter, upon the public sidewalks, roadways, alleys, bike paths or any other public rights-of-way of the city in residential districts with the exception that the riding of skateboards shall not be permitted:

1. Upon any freeway; or

2. Upon any public or private sidewalk or ramp, or access way specially designed for use by the handicapped.

C. Restriction on Use of Roadways. No person shall use or operate a skateboard on a public or private street or alley in the city if there is a sidewalk adjacent to and parallel with the street. If no such sidewalk is present, skateboards may be operated in the street as far on the right-hand side of the roadway as is practicable, in the same direction as vehicular traffic.

D. Violation of Right-of-way. No person shall operate, ride or propel a skateboard on any roadway, sidewalk, alley, bike path or public right-of-way in the city in such a manner as to violate the right-of-way of any vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian, or so as to endanger the safety of any person or property.

E. Use Prohibited During Hours of Darkness. No person shall operate or ride upon or propel a skateboard on any roadway, sidewalk, alley, bike path or other public right-of-way in the city between sunset and sunrise the following day.

F. Safety of Skateboard Riders. No person, while riding a skateboard, shall impair his or her hearing, vision or mental faculties, including, but not limited to, doing the following:

1. Wearing headphones;

2. Wearing of a mask or hood; or

3. By the use of drugs or alcohol.

G. Trick Riding. No person, while riding or operating a skateboard, shall perform any acrobatic, stunt or trick riding upon any roadway, sidewalk, bike path or public right-of-way, or upon any property or facility owned or controlled by the city. The use of ramps, jumps, chutes or any other portable device used to propel the skateboard off the pavement's surface shall be prohibited on any roadway, sidewalk, bike path, public right-of-way or public property.

H. Hitching Rides on Vehicles. No person riding any skateboard shall attach himself or herself or the skateboard to any vehicle, motor vehicle, motorcycle or motorized device of any kind when upon a roadway, bike path, sidewalk or public right-of-way.

I. Multiple Riders. No person riding or operating a skateboard shall allow any other person or persons to ride a skateboard simultaneously with that person.

(Ord. 505 § 1 (Exbt. A) (part), 1991)

A. Infraction. Any violation of this chapter shall be an infraction, punishable as provided in Section 1.04.030 of this code, and as set forth in this chapter.

B. Impoundment. Any skateboard used in the violation of any provision of this chapter shall be seized by the enforcing officer and held by the city pending a determination by the prosecuting attorney that such skateboard is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes. At such time as the prosecuting attorney determines that such skateboard is no longer needed for evidentiary purposes, the city shall notify the owner or person from whom such skateboard was seized that such skateboard may be reclaimed. If such owner or person is a juvenile, then the notice shall be to the parent or legal guardian of such juvenile.

(Ord. 505 § 1 (Exbt. A) (part), 1991)