Whittier Municipal Code Ch. 10.52 Skateboards, Bicycles and Motorcycles

The council of the city of Whittier finds and declares that the purpose of this chapter is to promote the public peace, morals, health, safety and general welfare of persons in the city by regulating the activity of skateboarding on private property which is assessable to the general public.

(Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)

A. "Uptown Whittier district" has the same meaning as that set forth in Chapter 5.06 of this code.

B. "Civic Center district" has the same meaning as set forth in general plan, land use plan, Exhibit 2-2, generally described as that area bounded by Penn Street on the North, Painter Avenue on the East, Washington Avenue on the West and Walnut Street on the South.

C. "Public park" means any park, reservation, playground, recreation center or any other area in the city-owned, maintained or used by the city for the purpose of public rest, play, enjoyment, active or passive recreation, or assembly, and shall include all buildings and structures located thereon or therewith.

D. "Educational institution" means any public, private or parochial, elementary, junior high, high school, university or other school giving general academic instruction in the several branches of learning.

E. "Nuisance" means any activity which:

1. Threatens injury or damage to persons or property; or

2. Creates an obstruction or presents a hazard to the free use of public or private property by pedestrians or motorists.

F. "Skateboard" means all wheeled objects, coasters, toys, conveyances, or similar devices used for transportation or sport which are propelled by human power and which are not classified as bicycles, roller skates, in-line skates or rollerblades.

G. "Bicycle" means any device upon which one or more persons may ride, propelled by human power, through a belt, chain or gears, and having two or three wheels in a tandem or tricycle arrangement.

(Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)

A. The city council may by resolution prohibit skateboarding on public streets, sidewalks, parking lots and other public property when it is determined to be necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of pedestrians, motorists or persons operating said skateboards on said streets and sidewalks.

B. No person shall skateboard on public streets, sidewalks, parking lots and other public property located in the Uptown Whittier district, Civic Center district, any public park or educational institution.

C. No person shall skateboard on any privately owned property which is posted with "No Skateboarding" signs as required by this chapter, without the express consent of the property owner or property management.

D. No person shall use a skateboard in a manner which creates a nuisance.

E. A police officer or person authorized to issue citations shall have the authority to impound the skateboard of a person who violates this chapter. The citation shall serve as a receipt for the skateboard.

F. Upon presentation of the citation to a police department representative, the owner may claim the skateboard at the police department during business hours. Upon receipt of the impounded skateboard, the owner shall be provided a copy of Section 10.52.030 of the Municipal Code, and be advised that for any subsequent violations of this chapter, the city will impound the skateboard, and seek a court order declaring the skateboard a nuisance and authorizing the city to destroy said skateboard. If the owner of the skateboard is a minor, his/her parents or legal guardian may claim the skateboard as described above. No fee will be assessed to the owner or to the owner's parents or guardian for the enforcement of this chapter.

(Ord. 2866 § 1—2, 2005; Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

No person shall ride a bicycle on any portion of any public sidewalk or other public place where signs are erected and or notices placed giving notice of such prohibition.

(Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)

No person shall use, operate or ride any bicycle, motor-driven cycle or motorcycle in excess of ten miles per hour upon, over or through any privately owned parking area or parking structure designated for use by the general public for the parking of motor vehicles and any such act shall be deemed a nuisance.

(Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)

No person shall ride, drive or operate any bicycle, motorcycle or motor-driven cycle in a race, trial, exhibition, competition or in any reckless or careless manner on, over or through any privately owned parking lot, parking structure or building designated, used and operated for use by the general public as a parking facility for the parking of motor vehicles.

(Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)

A. The city manager or his/her designee is authorized to post or erect, or cause to be posted or erected, signs prohibiting skateboarding or the use of skateboards on public streets and sidewalks so designated by resolution of the city council.

B. A property owner shall post or erect, or cause to be posted or erected, at the property owner's sole cost and expense, signs which are readily visible to the general public in a form reasonably as follows:

A no skateboarding policy exists for this private property. No person shall skateboard on this property without the express consent of the property owner or property management. For inquiries please contact the management office at _______ WMC § 10.52.020.

(Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

A. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be an infraction, and punishable as such, notwithstanding the fact that at the discretion of the city or district attorney, the violation of any section of this chapter may be filed as a misdemeanor. The complaint charging such violation shall specify whether the violation is a misdemeanor or an infraction. Each day a violation of any provision of this chapter shall continue to be a new and separate violation.

B. A violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a nuisance and may be abated by the city through civil process by means of restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or in any other manner provided by law for the abatement of such nuisances.

(Ord. 2751 § 1 (part), 1999)