I thought those t-shirts my friends wore in junior high were funny but they appear to be legally inaccurate. In a stunning act of poor judgement (in my own pathetic opinion) a Tampa police officer arrested this guy for skateboarding on Channelside.
When I saw the story I thought surely the arrest was for something else and he just happened to be skateboarding when caught. Nope. The charge reads “Unlawful Rollerskating.”
Sunday morning, Kowzun said the judge and lawyers laughed when his charge was announced.
Apparently this isn’t the first time skaters were arrested in Tampa.
I arrested 2 skateboarders a couple years ago who 1) damaged a marble staircase to the tune of $400 and 2) refused to leave when asked. Also seized their boards AND their video camera as evidence. It’s not funny when your business is out the repair money or sued when mom and dad look at the tape of Jr. breaking his arm and say “Why didn’t somebody stop my son from breaking the law and his arm??”
OK. Although it doesn’t appear this guy damaged anything and he apparently followed instructions to leave the area, albeit on his board. Also, and I know I am going to regret saying this, isn’t 25 a bit old to still be a skater?
dreaming
3 years ago
the tampa cops are really doing their part to bring life back to tampas deadass downtown….so lets see: about 1m people were illegally intoxicated and drinking in public on sat, but only 28 got arrested. one dork was rollerskating downtown and he had to spend the night in jail? nice going, tpd!
Joel
3 years ago
Tony Hawk is 38. Then again Tony Hawk gets paid a large amount of money for his “lawful rollerskating” – I’m guessing the guy in this story is a firm amateur.
dcdave
3 years ago
25 is only too old to skate if you suck or are too fat, both of which apply to me. Way to go TPD, making sure the evil skateboarders don’t disrupt the rest of our rampaging drunkeness.
Anonymous
3 years ago
that’s retarded, this law is dumb.
mecka!one
3 years ago
SKATEBOARDING ISN’T A CRIME!! fuck all you who think it is. fuck cops especailly. and you can be any age to skate. fuck stereotypes. and fuck every one who doesnt skate.paint and skate the world!!! bitches
mecka!one
3 years ago
and one more thing. screw florida. its all about Cali
wade
2 years ago
skateboarding isnt a crim!its enjoyable.
i got a story for you people you think its a crim….
i am 16 years old,ive been skateboarding for 3 years,and i hate when people yell at you for skateboarding.i used to do drugs and all that stupid stit,and yes its true some skateboarders do that.but for me if it wasnt for skateboarding i would be failing school doing drugs and hanging out with the bad people,i have like 10 friends i skate with everyday,and none of them do drugs at all..
so if you guys think its a crim,i think its a way to get ride of other bad things…cuz if you take away are skateboarding(are only fun)that seems to be alligle everyware.if you take that away,what else would we have to do,i mean,the only thing i can see is left for me is going back on drugs just so i wont sit in my house all day playing video games.and then people think bikers are bad to i used to bike and its not bad eather,just another sport…i think that you guys should let us use the streets,or make us a skatepark in every major town,cuz the more you talk about this,right in front of you the world of skateboarding is getting bigger weather you like it or not..your not going to stop it..if you can give football payers the feild and ball,basket ball players there court in parks and all that,why cant you give a sport that is just as big as thoes sports with a younger croud a place to have fun(A SKATEPARK)and plus god damn you think that if you did that we stay off the leges and so called”ruin”your side walks…
w/e skateboarding is the funniest thing ever,and its not going away for ever do deal with it,the more you hate it the more people are joining the wounderfull world of skateboarding…
find me in N.st.paul..minnasota
Sinner Ella
2 years ago
OK, no, Skateboarding is not a crime. and NO, 25 is not too old to do something you enjoy.
I am a rollerskater, myself and at 27, I don’t think anyone has the right to tell me I’m too old to do anything. As far as the fuck the cops comments go, don’t be such an idiot. If it weren’t for those cops, your ass could very well be dead. Grow up and take it to a place you can be heard.
Yes, the “No skating” law is one of the dumber ones we have on the books here in Tampa, but it’s a law. If you want it changed, do something pro-active. I’ll sign a petition in a heart beat.
Arresting a 16 year old is a little rediculous, from the news report I heard he didn’t even skate on it at the time the cop was talking to him, he simply put the board down on the sidewalk. In either case, arresting is a little on the far side for punishment. Give the kids a $20 fine and increase it gradually.
About 5 years ago, my husband was working on a construction site on Roosevelt Blvd and the I-275 overpass when a very prominent news personality as well as morning radio show hostess almost ran him and my father over at a construction site, basically destroying her vehicle while SEVERELY intoxicated. The cops showed, no field sobriety test, no arrest was made and she was allowed to call a friend to retrieve her drunk useless and very rude ass from the scene. St. Pete cop, TPD, FL Hwy Patrol, I don’t care. Enforce the important laws like DUI and DWI, and let the kids on a skate board go if they aren’t causing trouble. Most are on a board because they don’t have a license or $ for a car. I love seeing a crowd of people on boards busting their asses for a sport they love. Take it to the City to get a change of law or another park built, you guys deserve it.
Oh, and go to a roller derby bout and tell any of those 30 something mostly mothers that they’re too old to do what they’re doing. You’ll catch a Lazer plate to the skull, girly-man! USA Skating rink Hillsborough and Armenia 3rd Sun almost every month!
another nobody
2 years ago
I dont think that mainstream America sees what we as skateboarders experience on a day to day basis as far as predudice from cops, business owners, general public, etc.
We have some of the most gifted athletes in the world changing the world and bringing something new to the table.
Team riders from large companies like Nike, Adidas, DC, etc.
All pushing the limit every day.
And Still!
Getting picked on, put down, pushed around and given less respect daily than your local drug dealer or crack whore.
Professional athletes are getting off the bus or plane in just about any city and greeted by “Absolutely No Skateboarding” signs on every corner. Skate proof curbs, ledges, and rails accompanied by local and rental cops on standby.
Geese, and you wonder why all the attitude.
Thanks for your support America.
Another Nobody
sk8r4life
2 years ago
f*ck you ya damn cops . i got told to leave a skate spot because of a f*ckin sighn. i told the dude to f*ck off. its f*ckin public property and im part of the god damn public. i didnt damage anything. i was just having fun. at least im not out robbing stores and doing drugs. teens need something to do and skateboarding is my thing. so this goes out to all you cops and people who want skateboarding banned… F*CK YOU!!!!
Anonymous
1 year ago
uhhh
Anonymous
1 year ago
BAHHH!!!!!
Anonymous
1 year ago
piss
rylee
1 year ago
i have to do a assignment on this for english and we have to say what where standing up foa …im gunna say..skateing is definatly not a crime!!!!
xx
azure
9 months ago
skateboarding:
-industries make millions
-media makes millions
-is an efficient, green way to exercise while getting to places
-is a fun recreational activity
-is a sport just like any others that equip individuals with strong mentallities, creativeness, unlimitness, and innovativeness
-is a form of art
-brings people together
-empowers people with a sense of individualism, love, and passion for the sport and the desire to get better sometimes at any cost
-such costs would be to skate in illegal areas, vandalize property by grinding on ledges, rails, etc.. not comply with authorities orders/ run from them, disrupt people.. all from the love and passion for skating and the desire to get better
also skaters feel compelled to skate in these illegal areas because thats where all the good, diverse spots are. and sponsoring companies promote them to skate in these places to make good videos…
there are skateparks but the “ok” ones cost money, and the others are usually not enough, or/and they are not close to them. a great majority of them like to skate street instead of park also
people also view skaters as criminals because of the media such as MTV’s jackass, Viva la Bam, and stoner college movies that depict skaters as druggy-bums that are genuine jackass idiots
all these create prejudices against skateboarders which is not fair to the rest of skaters who are guinely good kids; get good grades, are healthy, don’t do drugs, are mentally strong, athletic……etc etc
~from a 16 year old skateboarder who grew up skating and still is going strong
peace =]
ian
3 months ago
stereotyping motherfucker, isn’t it too old to write some bullshit on blog? get life motherfucker, you have no idea what skateboarding is! bicycle can be a crime, roller blade can be a crime, writing bullshit can be a crime, people like you born to this world is a fucking sin!