Chapter 10.28
SKATEBOARDS
Sections:
10.28.050 Obedience to traffic control devices.
10.28.060 Negligent operation.
10.28.070 Restricted operation.
10.28.100 Clinging to motor vehicles.
10.28.110 Violation – Penalty.
10.28.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to restrict and prohibit the negligent use of skateboards, go-carts, scooters, bicycles, or roller skates in the city, banning the same from specified areas, prohibiting the negligent operation and establishing penalties for these violations. (Ord. 789 § 1, 1991)
10.28.020 Short title.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Newport skateboard chapter”. (Ord. 789 § 2, 1991)
10.28.030 Definitions.
Whenever in this chapter the following terms are used, they shall have the meanings respectively set forth in this section:
A. “Bicycle” means and includes a light vehicle with two tandem wheels, having handle bars and a saddle seat or seats and propelled by the feet acting on treadles connected with levers;
B. “Go-cart” means a vehicle distinguished by its small wheels (usually four) capable of carrying one person, the operator, propelled by a gas engine;
C. “Scooter” means a small-wheeled car or wagon upon or in which one or more child (or children) rides having no mechanical driving power and which is usually propelled by foot by the operator or pushed by an assistant, or permitted to coast downhill by gravity pull;
D. “Roller skates” means and shall include a pair of shoes, mounted upon a set of wheels or wheels which attach to shoes, and is most often propelled by the user in an upright, standing position or kneeling;
E. “Skateboard” means a short board composed of lumber, plastic or other substance to which is attached a set of roller skate wheels or other similar wheels, and is usually propelled along a smooth, paved hard surface by the user who sometimes stands, sits, kneels or leans on the device while it is in motion. (Ord. 789 § 3, 1991)
10.28.040 Applicability.
A. The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not be authorized or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.
B. These regulations applicable to skateboards, go-carts, scooters, bicycles, or roller skates shall apply whenever any of the same is operated upon any street, sidewalk or upon any public path or right-of-way set aside for the exclusive use of vehicles or pedestrians subject to those exceptions stated herein. (Ord. 789 § 4, 1991)
10.28.050 Obedience to traffic control devices.
A. Any person operating a skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle or roller skates shall obey the instruction of official traffic control signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles unless otherwise directed by a police officer.
B. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left, or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle, or roller skates shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except where such person dismounts from said vehicle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians. (Ord. 789 § 5, 1991)
10.28.060 Negligent operation.
A. It is a violation of this chapter for any person to operate skateboards, go-carts, scooters, bicycles, or roller skates in a negligent manner upon any roadway, sidewalk or publicly owned parking lot. For the purpose of this chapter, “to operate in a negligent manner” means the operation of a skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle, or roller skates in such a manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger pedestrians or property, or the operator.
B. No person riding a skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle, or roller skates shall restrict the flow of vehicle traffic in any manner whatsoever. When operating skateboards, go-carts, scooters, bicycles, or roller skates upon any street, the rider shall ride with the flow of traffic and ride as close to the curb as possible. (Ord. 938 § 2, 2000)
10.28.070 Restricted operation.
No person shall operate skateboards, go-carts, scooters, bicycles, or roller skates upon a street or sidewalk during the hours between a half hour after sunset and half hour before sunrise without wearing a reflective device on both the front and back of the skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle or roller skate rider. (Ord. 789 § 7, 1991)
10.28.080 Prohibited areas.
A. No person shall ride a skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle, or roller skates upon a sidewalk within the business district, being Washington Avenue, from the southerly right-of-way at the intersection of Walnut Street and Washington Avenue, along SR-2, to the intersection of 4th Street and Washington Avenue; including all city property known as the Centennial Plaza; all side streets to the alleys nor any other arterial sidewalks, except for Fifth Avenue from Calispel to the high school.
B. The police chief is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of skateboards, go-carts, scooters, bicycles, or roller skates thereon by any person and when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey them. (Ord. 789 § 8, 1991)
10.28.090 Right-of-way.
Whenever any person is riding a skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle, or roller skates upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian so as not to endanger the safety of the pedestrian. (Ord. 789 § 9, 1991)
10.28.100 Clinging to motor vehicles.
Any person riding upon any skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle or roller skates shall not attach the same or himself/herself to any moving vehicle upon any roadway. (Ord. 789 § 10, 1991)
10.28.110 Violation – Penalty.
Any person who violates any section of this chapter shall be deemed to have committed a Class 2 civil infraction and shall be assessed a monetary penalty in accordance with NMC 1.16.030. In the case of children under 18 years of age, the citation will be delivered to the juvenile department for appropriate action. The skateboard, go-cart, scooter, bicycle, or roller skates may be confiscated by the police officer and held as evidence until released by the prosecutor or court. (Ord. 2102 § 9, 2022; Ord. 938 § 2, 2000)