LAGUNA BEACH : Move to Decriminalize Skateboarding Begun

In a move toward what one councilman called the “decriminalization of skateboarding in Laguna Beach,” the City Council has given preliminary approval to an ordinance that would allow skateboarding on some city sidewalks.

Currently, skateboarders can legally enjoy their sport only on city streets, an option some believe is unsafe.

“Staff recognizes that, much like the surfboarding and bodysurfing conflicts of years ago . . . a balance must be reached between skateboarders and pedestrians who use the same sidewalks,” Police Chief Neil J. Purcell Jr. told the council Tuesday night.

City laws governing skateboarding also apply to bicyclists and roller skaters. If the revised law wins final approval at the March 21 council meeting, all of those would be allowed on most city sidewalks.

However, all three activities still would be banned on sidewalks in some areas, including the downtown business district, sidewalks next to Coast Highway, the Main Beach boardwalk and city parks.

While the vote for loosening the law was unanimous, council members disagreed about whether the city should require people to wear protective gear, including helmets.

The motion offered Tuesday night deleted the protective gear requirement from the proposed ordinance, but council members said they will revisit that issue before taking a final vote.

Skateboarders have caused some problems in the city in the past, Purcell said.

“There have been incidents of pedestrians being struck by skateboarders resulting in both minor and major personal injuries,” he said.

But in recent months, skateboarders have been lobbying the city for both a loosening of regulations and a local skateboard park.

Last month, the council agreed to pursue the possibility of creating the city’s first skateboard park and regulation-sized soccer field.