Bikers, Skaters Face New Speed Laws in Huntington Beach

Police got a new incentive to use radar in catching speeding bicyclists, skateboarders and skaters at the beach when the City Council on Monday night passed an ordinance setting new penalties.

The leg-powered speeders have been a problem for years and have frequently injured pedestrians at the strand. But police have been loathe to use radar as an enforcement tool because the existing penalty was severe: a fine of up to $500 and three months in jail.

Police Chief Ronald E. Lowenberg last month told the City Council that a new ordinance for bicycle-size offenses was needed.

The old law, Lowenberg said, made speeding bicyclists, skateboarders and skaters guilty of a misdemeanor if convicted. That law also required a court appearance.

“It is anticipated that if it remains classified as a misdemeanor, violators will contest the charge, due to the stigma of having a misdemeanor conviction on their record,” Lowenberg said in a memo to the City Council. “There would be more jury trials, and a public defender and prosecutor would have to be appointed” for each case.

Lowenberg urged the city to pass an ordinance that would make speeding on the beach an infraction, less serious than a misdemeanor. The new law also should have a smaller, more equitable fine, Lowenberg said.

The council agreed, and last month introduced the new ordinance. It becomes law early next month.

Ron Hagan, director of community services, stressed to the council the magnitude of the problem. Hagan said a citizens’ committee which has been studying problems at the beaches for several months ranked traffic congestion on roads and sidewalks first.

The ordinance says: “No person shall operate any wheeled conveyance of any type on the beach or beach service road at a speed in excess of 10 m.p.h. unless a greater speed is posted. The maximum speed limit when pedestrians are present shall be 5 m.p.h.”

As revised on Monday night, the new ordinance provides for the following fines:

If convicted of speeding 1 to 5 m.p.h. over the speed limit, $20; 6 to 10 m.p.h. over the limit, $40; 11 to 15 m.p.h., $50, and 16 to 20 m.p.h., $60.

Huntington Beach’s action came at a time when other beach cities also have expressed concern about congestion and danger to pedestrians along beach boardwalks and sidewalks. Newport Beach, for instance, has a special committee studying what to do about boardwalk problems.

Newport Beach City Manager Robert L. Wynn said he “recommended something be done after a pedestrian won a $270,000 judgment against the city this year because of being knocked down by a bicycle on the boardwalk.”