I'm a criminal because im a.......

A skateboarder????

That's what I've been told time after time again by the Philadelphia Police.
I've been skating for the past 10 years of my life, I love it. It's what I do.
It helps me when i'm stressed. It gives me something positive to do. It keeps me going.
For some reason though, we can't skate anywhere! The cops and security kick us out of every spot.
We could go to skateparks. Only problem though is that there in the worst areas, and you'll be at risk of getting jumped or robbed there. A friend of mine got jumped, beat up and his board stolen from a bunch of little "hood kids" so to say. And who want's to skate skateparks anyway? If your a true street skater, skating different spots, and all kinds of obstacles is what its all about, it's about being creative and having lots of fun in the process. Plus if you get really into it and filming gets involved then your definitely trying to go to different spots.

Anyways the point is,
I could get tickets for 300 dollars, my board confiscated, finger printed, and have a criminal record because of it. Really? Are we criminals, because were expressing ourselves, having fun, staying out a trouble, being respectful and careful of pedestrians. the damage we do is little, and always fixable. Can't you just make us fix it or something? This is a bit extreme and unfair people. People can play sports all over the place hassle free, and we get hassled beyond belief. Cops have checked friends of mine into trees, pushed em to the ground, basically beat them up, and treated them like criminals. In Philly especially there's so much "actual" crime, and they have nothing better to do than bother us. Why?

I understand that they have to follow the rules, but tell us.
Don't be dicks, and treat us like crap.
Some of us are college students, positive people, people who have a lot going for them or at least trying to do something positive. It's our sport, treat us like an athlete. Be respectful.

Now I've met cool cops, but there ain't enough.

If there are any cops on here tell me what you think.

Thanks,

YS

Well if your breaking a law then yes you are a criminal. If your skating in places that the law prohibits you from doing and then complaining about it you also have the mentality that laws shouldn't apply to you.

I'd give you a ticket too for being arrogant

If you don't like the law than start a petition to have it changed but don't expect to break it and not be treated like a criminal. You should know that if your in college.

reply to post by kro32


That's a bit harsh, and I'm not arrogant. But thanks! It's about freedom my friend! Just trying to be free man!

They leave us few options, and we talk to them and they say there's nothing they can do. They tell us to go to the neighboring school, and then they send us back, back and forth all the time.

Let me say right up front, I am not a skateboarder and never have been. It seems to me though that there would be some middle ground here? Not with the police perhaps...What is new and welcome to the new America as far as they go. However, couldn't you and the people you regularly skate with perhaps talk with business owners prior to skating on property they own? I understand there may be hard feelings by now from both directions on things done in the past....but how about offering them $20 or something for the time you're there with your friends..and ask that you receive it back minus a buck or two for good faith and feelings...if they feel you did no harm during your time skating around their property?

It's a little cumbersome a process with how many places you probably go and skate...but the status quo sounds totally out of what anyone can live with...and perhaps after a few times of showing good faith on your side, the businessmen won't bother with things like that $20 bill up front when they see it's you and your group, who they have come to know as responsible and decent kids out having some harmless fun?

Just a thought?

reply to post by youthsavior

People can play sports all over the place hassle free

no they cannot, well at least it always depends. have you ever tried playing football in a supermarket? paintballing in the streets? or using a portion of the road to do some bowling using bottles as the skittles? have you tried rockclimbing on a building? archery in a busy street? or using a flight of steps for downhill skiing?

what do you think these people will be told? will they complain they are being unfairly treated?

i think it is just a case of them trying to explain there is a rightful place to do certain things that if done outside their natural enviorment can become a danger to others or a nuisence.

reply to post by youthsavior

I know what you mean. A friend of mine likes to take his car off-road, onto sidewalks, into parks, shops... The cops fine him too. Can't they see he's just being free and creative?

Originally posted by kro32
Well if your breaking a law then yes you are a criminal. If your skating in places that the law prohibits you from doing and then complaining about it you also have the mentality that laws shouldn't apply to you.

I'd give you a ticket too for being arrogant

If you don't like the law than start a petition to have it changed but don't expect to break it and not be treated like a criminal. You should know that if your in college.

It seems like you stand by the drug laws witch only cause more violence then it would if was legal. NO its not that a laws a law, buddy your supposed to go by the constitution not a bunch of greedy politicians. A petition? Bwhaha you have to be kidding me. A petition is not going to change a unjust law. They know its unjust. Petitions have been made for skating and other sports and they tell you to go to the skate parks. If you can play basball, basket ball, foot ball, ect in the city then why cant you skate? It has nothing to do with you hurting your self and sewing like they tell you. It comes down to the city getting paid and the cops meting their ticket quota.

"I'd give you a ticket too for being arrogant " Is it against the law to be arrogant? Since when are cops supposed to give tickets BASED ON SOME ONES VIEWS????

A lot of places skateboarding is prohibited simply because the owners are afraid of liability. If you "fall down" and hurt yourself, then sue the business for having a 'known obstacle' to your skating 'freedom'--we'll, I'm sure you see the problem.

Originally posted by lifeform11
reply to post by youthsavior

 

People can play sports all over the place hassle free

no they cannot, well at least it always depends. have you ever tried playing football in a supermarket? paintballing in the streets? or using a portion of the road to do some bowling using bottles as the skittles? have you tried rockclimbing on a building? archery in a busy street? or using a flight of steps for downhill skiing?

what do you think these people will be told? will they complain they are being unfairly treated?

i think it is just a case of them trying to explain there is a rightful place to do certain things that if done outside their natural enviorment can become a danger to others or a nuisence.

Uhh all of what you said can cause some serious damage. Most the time skating causes no damage. Cars cause more damage then a skate board. You can only skate on hard surfaces witch cannot brake from rubber wheels.

Originally posted by schuyler
A lot of places skateboarding is prohibited simply because the owners are afraid of liability. If you "fall down" and hurt yourself, then sue the business for having a 'known obstacle' to your skating 'freedom'--we'll, I'm sure you see the problem.

Thats a bunch of bull #. The main stream media has made skate boarding look like a "hoodlum sport" these business just dont want "hoodlums" taking business. But maybe if they let them stay their, the people that are afraid wont be so afraid after seeing it over and over.

reply to post by sabbathcrazy


yes but the people who are doing the things i mention will be careful not to harm others so do not see a problem with it, accidents can happen though, just like with skateboarding.

Its just like freedom of speech. You should not be censored because the majority does not like it. Saying that you could damage or hurt some one and charging them for that. Is like charging some one for pre crime.

Originally posted by sabbathcrazy

Originally posted by kro32
Well if your breaking a law then yes you are a criminal. If your skating in places that the law prohibits you from doing and then complaining about it you also have the mentality that laws shouldn't apply to you.

I'd give you a ticket too for being arrogant

If you don't like the law than start a petition to have it changed but don't expect to break it and not be treated like a criminal. You should know that if your in college.

It seems like you stand by the drug laws witch only cause more violence then it would if was legal. NO its not that a laws a law, buddy your supposed to go by the constitution not a bunch of greedy politicians. A petition? Bwhaha you have to be kidding me. A petition is not going to change a unjust law. They know its unjust. Petitions have been made for skating and other sports and they tell you to go to the skate parks. If you can play basball, basket ball, foot ball, ect in the city then why cant you skate? It has nothing to do with you hurting your self and sewing like they tell you. It comes down to the city getting paid and the cops meting their ticket quota.

"I'd give you a ticket too for being arrogant

" Is it against the law to be arrogant? Since when are cops supposed to give tickets BASED ON SOME ONES VIEWS????

Of course I stand by drug laws but that doesn't mean I have to agree with them. If I was truly passionate about an issue that I felt was unfair I would do my best to change it through any number of means but I wouldn't just break that law and suppose that I shouldn't be punished because I think it's stupid.

As part of living in a society you agree to follow the laws which have been passed. There are avenues in place to change those laws.

Originally posted by youthsavior
For some reason though, we can't skate anywhere!

Well, Philadelphia city law says it's legal to skateboard on "public roads, highways, bicycle and/or skateboard paths, or sidewalks abutting private property" except for the Municipal Services Building plaza and sidewalks. It's not legal to skateboard on private property where the owner has posted a notice prohibiting it.

reply to post by sabbathcrazy


so you have no problem then if i do a spot of archery right near you front door? or use the pavement outside your house for mini bike racing? www.minipocketrockets.com...

i will respect others and be careful so it should be o.k.

Originally posted by Ayjay
reply to post by youthsavior

 

I know what you mean. A friend of mine likes to take his car off-road, onto sidewalks, into parks, shops... The cops fine him too. Can't they see he's just being free and creative?

Cars are a bit different than a skate board. Basic common law involves not harming another or theft, and parks are public property, (though some may really endorse privately owned ones), and malls are also owned with lots of property in them.

But yes, there are many things that should not be laws, however, they still would take some problem solving, ie. liscensing, versus accidents.

How about skating at some skate parks?

I just ran a simple google search of skate parks in phillie and look how many you have to choose from.

skatespotter.com...

There should be no reason for you to complain you have nowhere to skate. Let me ask you this. You say any damage you cause is minimal and always fixable. Right?

Who has to pay for the damages?

reply to post by youthsavior


I'm not sure what it's like in the US compared to Australia - but here skating is seen in the same light.

Problem is, you get groups of 10 - 20 kids doing tricks off a bench (for example) - they all line up, and scream down the public footpath towards the bench, do a little trick, then skate back around.

Fine when it works properly - but turns into a nightmare when they miss the trick, and their skateboard goes hurtling into a passerby - or they lose control and run into you (or your fiance, as happened with me a few months back in Sydney).

He ran into her, and then my hand ran into him, and he ran into the ground.

This is what annoys me about skaters - and this is the public perception of skaters - so, in all honesty, you can blame the packs of arrogant, rude skaters for ruining it for the rest of you.

reply to post by ExCommando

There are indeed some arrogant, rude skaters.

A few years ago, my three-year-old and I were waiting for my wife in Martin Place, Sydney. (For you out-of-towners, Martin Place is a pedestrian mall.) I was sitting on one side of the amphitheatre behind the fountain, watching my three-year-old chase pigeons around the amphitheatre. A trio of teenage schoolboys in uniforms started attempting skateboard jumps down the length of the amphitheatre. One of them came within a hair's breadth of landing on my three-year-old. Another of the boys came up to me and said, "Dude, get your kid out of the way. We want to practise." I said, "Dude, I think you want the private skateboard park."

reply to post by youthsavior


So what's new? I am not a skateboarder, but I have a spinner knob on my steering wheel, and I have altered my truck engine against Federal Rules to make it get better fuel mileage. I run without a CAT, or Oxygen sensor. I speed most all of the time. My illegal in some States Radar Detector warns me so that I don't get a ticket. I partake of the noble herb...there are many thing all of us do that beaks the law. but! American is a Nation of Laws, and we have to have them. It is not, however, a law to skirt around it and not get caught. It also pays to educate yourself on the law, and if so, take them down one time, they will leave you alone after that.