I don’t know what my deal is with skaters. I’ve never owned a skateboard, never known a real skater, and I have a 10 year old pair of inline skates that have been worn a handful of times (the last time being about 9.5 years ago). But I get so worked up when I hear someone getting arrested for UNLAWFUL ROLLERSKATING.
Three skateboarders were arrested in downtown Tampa:
Leon Wilfredo Lopez, 24, Jed Wesley Foster, 22, and Oliver Quinn Giles, 18, were arrested and charged with unlawful skateboarding…
Eventually we’ll rid the world of these terrible terrible menaces to society. But in the meantime, can’t we just help them find places where they can go? Instead of busting their chops, why can’t cops suggest they head over to the Bro Bowl or DeSoto Park?
Tampa gets on National Television because of skaters – why don’t we have a bit more respect for the sport? Why doesn’t the city’s P&R list of parks include those with skate ramps? Seriously, can’t we have a few more public places where this mostly harmless activity is allowed?
Chuck Welch
2 years ago
It was the same in Louisville. Nationally recognized skate park that hosted the X Games…and they still busted kids skating in the streets.
I don’t hear about kids being arrested in Lakeland. We do have a new indoor park. I did a story for Lakeland Local: Skating the Old School Compound
Tam
2 years ago
I couldn’t agree more. My son isn’t a fan of “organized sports” and took up skateboarding about 5 years ago. He loves it and it’s good exercise. He and his friends are constantly harrassed by the president of our HOA for skateboarding on the sidewalks of our neighborhood. I told my son to tell her that we pay taxes and he has every right to skateboard. Hopefully that new skatepark will open soon in New Tampa, sadly my son will be in college next year and won’t have time to enjoy it.
lesley
2 years ago
I really believe this will never change my son has been skating for years and has always been harrassed for skating around town.We live in the wealthy communnity of sarasota and are fortunate to have a skatepark. what a joke! its only opened about three or four hours a day and is one of the only parks I know that they make are kids pay for.
The Carl
2 years ago
The biggest problem with public skateboarding, besides the prospect of liability if one of those dorks gets hurt on somebody else’s property (Wipeout? Call 1-800-MorganLaw), is that these kids don’t show any respect for whatever they roll over. For example, the church I attend has nicely asked skaters to keep off the front steps of the sanctuary because of damage to tiles. Vandalism was the response. Here’s something else to consider: If the skaters don’t make good use of Bro Bowl, guess where our next “exciting new downtown condos” will go?
Wifey
2 years ago
Why are they dorks? This is the problem, everyone gets judged for what a few do wrong.
WP
2 years ago
I believe the implication is that they’re dorks not because they’re skateboarders, but that they’re skating where they’re not supposed to. I’ve witnessed a few different incidents int downtown Tampa. Most recently, we were waiting for a show at Tampa Theatre and there was a group doing their thing on the steps of the building across the street. After about 10 minutes or so, the guard came out of the building and very politely asked them to move along. The boarders became quite indignant, and displayed a lot of immaturity(they were at least 16 years old or so), with their language and behavior as they left after a brief confrontation refusing to depart. It’s always the rotten few that stink it up for the rest, but in skateboarding, those are often the “heroes.” It’s about respect and those that refuse to show it can hardly expect to receive it.
runt
2 years ago
This conversation kills me! Carls post is the perfect example of why kids are so pissed and why old t-town is truly backwards in every way. I now live in a city a fraction of the size/population with four nice free skate parks. Yhea, go to the bro bowl but brush up on your self defense skills first! To hell with anybody that wants to do anything other than drive to a bucs game or a bar.
Tam
2 years ago
Dorks? My son will be attending University of Tampa in the August. He is far from a Dork, Carl. And…he skates mostly at the skatepark or in the cul-de-sac where his friend’s house is in our neighborhood as to avoid cars. Not all skaters are “dorks” or are trouble makers. They get a bad rap for a few that don’t respect other’s property. Calling them Dorks in general, That’s like saying all baseball players use steriods.
Mr. Bill
2 years ago
Do we really want our law enforcement officals arresting skate boarders ?
WP
2 years ago
Personally, I’d prefer tort reform and a parenting license requirement.
wes
2 years ago
Thanks for calling me a dork carl but get the facts straight before you sound off. first off i was arrested for longboarding. i do not shortboard,jump off stairs or grind on ledges. i use a $400 longboard to race with my friend down the garages at speeds up to 30 mph. we ride on the monthly parking side of the garage at night where there is NO traffic. the only thing we are hurting in the garage is our boards and bodies. we wear knee and elbow pads, sliding gloves and of course helmets.
the night i was arrested i was not part of the group of kids that were warned by the security gaurd. we had been there for less than 10 minutes when the cops showed up.the cops were fresh on duty and ready for some action. i guess thats why 8 cars showed up.seems like the TPD has nothing better to do in downtown tampa.considering ive seen prostitutes and crackheads in the very parking lot we park it
BATMAN
1 year ago
dorks? carl is a fag for saying that kinda stuff about skaters in general. i’ve been skating for about 2 and a half years, and i’ve seen and heard it all, people arent so nice as to say “please leave”, or something nice like that, its always yelling and “Im gonna call the cops if you don’t leave now”,some dont even say anything they just call the police. I dont live in tampa, i actually live in ocala (about 2 hours away). but i used to go to tampa with my dad because my parents had gotten a divorce.im seventeen years old and i can honestly say that there are many more carls out there that try to stop us skaters from having a place to skate than people like tom who understand skating. but im not excusing those who skate and do things the wrong way, im just tired of steriotypical people who lable skaters as only vandals, liars, delinquents, and generally horrible people. this is called being prejiduce toward skaters. and not all skaters are that way.