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Bikers, skaters won't be cited soon
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Published: December 17, 2008
Interim Statesville Police Department Chief Tom Anderson said he plans an educational effort before officers begin issuing citations for violations of the newly-passed skateboard-bicycling ordinance.
"We're not going to go around and start issuing citations right away," he said.
The ordinance passed Monday night by the Statesville City Council bans operating skateboards, bicycles or any type of scooters on the sidewalks in the downtown tax district.
Previously, skateboarding was allowed during certain times of day on public property.
There was opposition to the new ordinance, which was supported by the majority of the Downtown Statesville Development Corporation.
Downtown businessman and skateboarder Marion Karr said he believed there were already laws in place to deal with the issues of skateboarders.
A former member of the DSDC board of directors, Karr said enforcement of the previous ordinance should address the problems.
During the past year, Anderson said, 52 charges were filed in connection with skateboarding or riding bikes downtown. Most of those were trespassing charges for being on private property or in violation of the ordinance.
Many of those cited, he said, were from outside of Iredell County, such as Hickory, Hiddenite and Taylorsville.
Anderson said the initial enforcement phase will be working with the street department to post signs about the new ordinance. "That gives the public the information about the change," he said.
The interim chief said he will work with school resource officers to distribute information about the new ordinance to students.
"We want voluntary compliance," Anderson said. "We are asking for everyone's cooperation so we don't have to take enforcement actions. For the time being, we'll give verbal warnings that the ordinance has changed."
After a reasonable amount of time for people to adjust to the new ordinance, citations will be issued, Anderson said.
An officer, working in an off-duty capacity and being paid with overtime monies, will be assigned to the downtown area to deal with the new ordinance and to keep an eye on downtown businesses to prevent break-ins and other crimes.
"He will be on foot patrol and in a patrol car at times," he said.
Anderson said he anticipates the next couple of weeks being more of an educational effort as more kids will be out of school for the holidays and in the downtown area.
"This is a good opportunity to talk with the kids and give them verbal warnings," he said.
The laws against trespassing were not changed by the new ordinance and anyone on the property of a business that has no trespassing signs posted will be charged, Anderson said.
"We want people to embrace the ordinance, but if in a reasonable amount of time it's not being obeyed, we will be strictly enforcing it," he said.
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