Politically Correct

Skateboarding gained its popularity with the surfing crowd back in the 1960’s and has grown exponentially since then. With the creation of sponsored teams that travel the world competing to local neighborhood skate parks, this pastime and what some would consider sport has recently started to take a negative turn. 

While skating on ramps and man-made inclines is fun some choose to test their skills at a different level by skating in and on areas of the city and man-made structures. Street skating, is it is called, has unfortunately has been hindered by the laws and rules determining when and where people can skate.

The police and skaters have now created a negative stereotype towards each other whereas terms like pigs, coppers, stick flippers, and plywood pushers are regularly used.

I asked a friend of the families who happens to be a city police officer to comment this subject. Officer Kerr stated that, “railings, benches, curbs and any ledges are constantly having to be repainted, fixed or repaired from the damage… We want to keep our public places people friendly and looking nice.” I also asked Officer to comment on ways to prevent this from happening and what type of violations are in place. Officer Kerr informed me that, “large signs are posted in places where skating is strictly restricted but unfortunately I [Officer Kerr]sometimes think these signs only encourage them to keep doing it.  Every city monitors these infractions similarly. Our city [Missouri City] will issue verbal and written warnings before a monetary fine is assessed. One problem we also get is that people then to argue that skateboarding is not a crime and proceed to run away from the officers, this however is a crime.”

Officer Kerr later goes on to state that in places where this a major problem simple supporting or helping to fund a public skate park that has elements of the street areas will and has caused these damages and crimes to go down.

All in all it’s important that officers and skateboarders alike not take things out of context and simply follow the rules. More than likely you will get a verbal warning or possibly written but be careful because too many of these and you might find yourself slapped with a fine.

- Justin Hajek