Skateboarding still a crime in Breckenridge

BRECKENRIDGE, Colorado — Hoodie-wearing youngsters flocked to Breckenridge Town Hall this week, as a lively crowd of skateboard enthusiasts -- young and old -- asked the town council to allow riding on town streets.

About 10 of some 30 skate enthusiasts shared suggestions for policy change, saying it isn’t right for a person on a skateboard to be ticketed when bicycles are allowed on streets, especially when skating is eco-friendly transportation.

“There have been people getting tickets for going into town just to go to work,” said Chris Johnson, owner of Big Hit Skate and Snowboard Shop.

The Breckenridge Police Department issued six “skateboarding in roadway” citations between Feb. 15, 2007 and June 23, 2008, according to its records.

Violators incur $50 in fines.

Johnson said the skaters want an ordinance be passed allowing them to ride on all streets but Main Street and Park Avenue, where traffic and pedestrians are more concentrated.

“The last thing we want do is peel one of these guys off an SUV,” he said.

The skateboarders demonstrated for their cause on Saturday, circulating a petition and riding en masse down Main Street.

Police department spokeswoman Kim Green said that the ones who’ve received citations are blatant repeat offenders.

“We don’t harass them,” Green said. “We do make a very concerted effort to give verbal warnings before we ever issue citations.”

There’s a three-to-one ratio of warnings to citations for skateboarding offenses, she said, and the department occassionally receives complaints from irritated motorists regarding skaters who carve the roads, backing up traffic.

“If they’re riding single-file, it’s not a big deal,” Green said.

On Tuesday, resident Lynne Drakos said she prefers her child to be on a skateboard, “moving along rather than walking” when he’s on town streets, as it’s safer and makes for a shorter trip.

Another resident, Carolyn Costanza, voiced the only opposition to allowing skateboarders on streets. She said drivers from out of town may not be accustomed to yielding to boards.

“(It’s a) tourist town. People driving here aren’t familiar with the streets,” Costanza said, adding that she was speaking on behalf of several not in attendance.

Other skate supporters said town sidewalks are bumpy and make for rough rides.

They said they appreciate the town providing a skate park.

Mayor John Warner said council will discuss the issue with staff and will consider changes at the next town meeting, July 8.

State and town laws ban skateboards from roads, as they aren’t classified as vehicles.

Police chief Rick Holman said that he has safety concerns, noting that, unlike bicycles, skateboards aren’t classified as vehicles in Colorado because they don’t have brakes.

“Their easiest way (to stop) is to dismount, but then it keeps going,” he said. “It’s hard to make a comparison.”

Holman said he will research how other communities have addressed the issue and present conclusions to council.

Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.