For the purpose of carrying out the intent of this chapter, words, phrases and terms used herein shall have their ordinary meaning, unless otherwise indicated as follows:
"BMX bicycle"
shall be defined as any nonmotorized two-wheel bicycle.
"BMX bicycle rider"
shall be defined as any person utilizing a BMX bicycle.
"Hoverboard"
means any motorized two-wheeled platform of any composition or size that is propelled by a motor or electric mechanism such as a battery, and to which two or more wheels are attached and which is intended to be ridden by one person standing in an upright position.
"Nonmotorized" or "motorized wheeled vehicles"
means two- or three-wheeled recreational scooters and bicycles that are propelled by motor, electricity, pushing, pulling, body movement, peddling, or gravity and that contain a mechanism for steering.
"Public property"
means public roadways, public sidewalks, alleys, public parking lots and other public property, including walkways, landscaping and methods of ingress and egress to public facilities.
"Public skate park facility"
shall be defined as any facility, structure or area in which skateboarding, in-line skating, roller skating and BMX bicycling is permitted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, which is owned, operated and maintained by the city of Hawthorne and which has been designated as a public skate park facility by the city of Hawthorne.
"Roller skates" or "in-line skates"
including roller blades, shall be defined as any shoe, boot or other foot-wear to which one or more wheels are attached and which are propelled by body movement and contain no mechanism for steering.
"Skateboard"
is any platform of any composition or size to which two or more wheels are attached and which is intended to be ridden or propelled by one or more persons standing or kneeling upon it and which is intended to be propelled by motor, electricity, pushing, pulling, body movement, or gravity and to which there is not affixed any device or mechanism for steering.
"Skater"
means any person participating in skate or skateboard activity.
(Ord. 2113 § 1, 2016)
A. 
Prohibition. No person shall operate, ride or use a skateboard, roller skates and other motorized or nonmotorized vehicles as defined above upon any public or private property within any zone of the city where notice of such provision has been posed and is clearly visible at a minimum of two entrances or the immediate area where such activity is prohibited.
B. 
Skateboarding on Public Property. Persons riding on skateboards, roller skates and other motorized or nonmotorized vehicles as defined above shall comply with the following requirements and restrictions:
1. 
Transportation Uses. Roller skates, skateboards, bicycles and motorized or nonmotorized two- or threewheeled vehicles shall be used to travel from one destination to another. Loitering on public property for the purpose of performing skate, skateboard, bicycle or motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicle tricks and stunts is strictly prohibited.
2. 
Skateboarding in the Upright Position. Persons riding on skates, skateboards, or motorized or nonmotorized-two- or three-wheeled vehicles (other than three-wheeled bicycles) shall do so only in the upright, standing position. Using, pushing, propelling or riding on skates, skateboards, motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles (other than three-wheeled bicycles) in a sitting, prone, kneeling or lying position is prohibited.
3. 
Traffic Controls. Persons riding on skates, skateboards, bicycles, or motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles on public roadways shall obey all speed limits, stop signs, signal lights, and other traffic controls that govern right-of-way.
4. 
Yielding to Traffic in Same Direction. Persons riding on skates, skateboards, bicycles or motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles on public roadways shall ride close to the far-right edge of the roadway, and shall yield to vehicles approaching from the rear by moving to the right curb or shoulder of the roadway.
5. 
Uncontrolled Intersections. When approaching an uncontrolled intersection, persons riding on skates, skateboards, bicycles or motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles on public roadways or public sidewalks shall yield to vehicles that are so near as to present a hazard and shall not cross the intersection at a speed in excess of ten miles per hour.
6. 
Manner of Operation. No person shall operate skates, skateboards, bicycles or motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles recklessly or in such a manner or at such a speed as to cause or threaten to cause injury to him or herself or to others, to create an obstruction or to present a hazard to the free use of public property by other pedestrians or motorists.
7. 
Attaching To or Towing By Vehicle. A person operating skates, skateboards, bicycles or motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles shall not attach the same or him or herself to any motor vehicle on the roadway. In addition, a person shall not knowingly drive a motor vehicle that is towing a person riding upon a skateboard.
C. 
Skateboard Park. A skateboard park has been developed for use by any person as set forth in Chapter 2.26B of this code. Any person performing stunts, tricks or other maneuvers on a skateboard in any area outside of the public skateboard facility shall be in violation of this section.
D. 
Public Parks and Public Property. The use of public parks other than the public skateboard facility for recreational skating, skateboarding, bicycling or use of motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles, including, but not limited to, the use of park facilities to perform tricks, stunts and other maneuvers for show or entertainment purposes is strictly prohibited. Public property may not be used to propel for tricks, jumps or other acts of skill on skateboards, roller skates or motorized or nonmotorized wheeled vehicles except in locations specifically designated for such use.
E. 
Exercise of Due Care. Skateboards, roller skates, bicycles or other motorized or nonmotorized two- or three-wheeled vehicles may be operated on the public right-of-way in order to travel from one destination or another only when exercising due care and giving proper regard for the safety of motorists, pedestrians and property.
(Ord. 2113 § 1, 2016)
This chapter does not apply to wheelchairs or mobile devices such as four-wheeled scooters used by the physically disabled or impaired.
(Ord. 2113 § 1, 2016)
A. 
It is unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with the provisions of this section. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to fines as established by the city council as set forth in Hawthorne Municipal Code Section 1.22.030.
B. 
Where this chapter has been violated more than once in a seventy-two-hour period by a juvenile, in lieu of a fine or imprisonment, the chief of police or designee may impound the skateboard, roller skates, or other vehicle as defined above for a period not to exceed thirty days.
C. 
When a skateboard, roller skates, or other wheeled vehicle as defined above is impounded, the parent or guardian of the juvenile shall be responsible for paying a fee of forty dollars for processing and storing the item.
D. 
This section shall not apply to persons participating in any city-sponsored program, event or class in which use of the self-powered wheeled devices described herein are specifically authorized, permitted or required.
(Ord. 2113 § 1, 2016)