The Borough Council of the Borough of Columbia
finds and declares that the provisions of this chapter are enacted
to establish regulations governing the operation of skateboards, hoverboards/electronically
motorized boards, scooters, and skates on the roadways, sidewalks,
public parks, paths, public places, or public property of the Borough
of Columbia.
Unless otherwise indicated, all provisions of
this chapter shall apply to all skateboards, hoverboards/electronically
motorized boards, scooters and skates operated within the jurisdictional
boundaries of the Borough of Columbia.
This chapter may be referred to as the "Skateboard
Ordinance of the Borough of Columbia."
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
ROADWAY
That portion of the highway designed or ordinarily used for
vehicular traffic or travel excluding sidewalks.
SCOOTER
A device consisting of a narrow board or platform of wood,
metal, fiberglass or other similar material with wheels affixed to
the underside and guided by a handle attached to the front wheel or
wheels which is propelled solely by human power and gravity.
SIDEWALK
That portion of any highway or roadway designed or ordinarily
used for pedestrian traffic or travel.
SKATEBOARD
A device consisting of a flat surface constructed of wood,
metal, fiberglass, or other similar material with two or more wheels
affixed to the underside which is used by a person for coasting, is
guided by distribution of weight of the user and is propelled solely
by human power and gravity.
SKATES
Any device worn on or attached to the human foot affixed
to wheels and propelled by human power and gravity.
VEHICLE
Every device, excluding skateboards, hoverboards/electronically
motorized boards, scooters, skates, wagons, wheelchairs, unicycles,
bicycles, pedicycles, push carts, tricycles or other children's toys,
in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported
or drawn upon a roadway or sidewalk.
No person shall place any ramp, half-pipe, or
other structure used in conjunction with operating a skateboard, hoverboard/electronically
motorized board, scooter or skates in a public street, roadway, alley,
sidewalk, parking lot or path within the Borough of Columbia.
The Chief of Police of the Borough of Columbia
or his designee is hereby authorized to establish any written regulations
necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof:
A. Every offense. Upon conviction of any offense, whether
it be a first offense or subsequent offense of any provision of this
chapter, such person shall be ordered to pay restitution should any
damage or injury have resulted from the action giving rise to the
violation of the chapter.
B. First offense. The skateboard, hoverboard/electronically
motorized board, scooter or skates used in violation of this chapter
shall be impounded by the Police Department of the Borough of Columbia
for a period not exceeding 15 days. If the person violating the chapter
is a minor, in addition to the confiscation of the skateboard, hoverboard/electronically
motorized board, scooter or skates as aforesaid, the Police Department
of the Borough of Columbia shall notify the parents, guardians, or
other persons having legal custody of said minor of the violation
of this chapter and the impounding of the skateboard, hoverboard/electronically
motorized board, scooter or skates. In addition, said individual shall
be provided with a copy of the chapter.
C. Second and/or subsequent offenses. The skateboard, hoverboard/electronically motorized board, scooter, or skates of any person violating the provisions of this chapter for the second or any subsequent time shall be impounded by the Police Department of the Borough for a period not exceeding 30 days, and said person shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of no less than $15 and no more than $50, plus costs. In the event said person is a minor, the skateboard, hoverboard/electronically motorized board, scooter, or skates of said minor shall be impounded by the Police Department of the Borough of Columbia for a period not exceeding 30 days, and the parents, guardians or other persons having legal custody of said minor shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $15 nor more than $50, plus costs and restitution as set forth in Subsection
A above.