skater vs. cop...not a pretty scene

[ATG-ATB]

The laws that cop is supposed to be protecting, allows that kid to voice his opinion of said cops actions however he sees fit without causing harm to another person. He was never physically resisting. And the cop was WAY out of line.


he still has a great case in court, smart mouth or not.

Pretty sure the law views verbal abuse as harmful dude. What case exactly would he bring to court? The off camera kick? Or the arm breaking which as killdozer said is acceptable?

Funny how the skaters don't post what happened before, I imagine it was the cop asking for their IDs and politely telling them to leave. Or them doing something they shouldn't be. There's a lot of dickhead, skater hating cop vids on youtube but this isn't one of them.

[killdozer]

[Lenny]

I have to admit, I agree with the cop. As was said eariler the officer has better stuff to do than deal with it. At the same time, it is a law and it is his job to enforce the laws of the land. Whether you (or even he) agrees with the particular law is completely beside the point. In all likelihood, he'd say "pick up the boards, don't do it again" and move on. Then, when challenged, things escalate.

As a teacher, I find myself in a similar situation at least a few times each week: I see something against the rules of the school, I say something like "watch it" and expect to leave it at that so I can go on with my job, but, as the saying goes: you can't give some people a break. They'll want to push things and prove something (usually to their peers) and it ends badly.

As far as the threat to break the arm goes, it seems (upon just watching it once albeit) that took place after the officer had one arm and the skater tried to pull away. Again, like was said earlier, the cops are trained to take down pretty gnarly and burly dudes who resist arrest.

And, my father gave me some great advice when I was growing up: only argue with a police officer in front of a judge, never on the street.

[Kameli]

Wtf ?

Did I get this right? Is it really illegal to skate in some states ?

[mkg]

Wtf ?

Did I get this right? Is it really illegal to skate in some states ?

This is probabally a county ordinance .

[AJ]

Anyone wanna go skate at the Baltimore harbour?

[thaidiver]

The kid broke the law . End of story .

This is probabally a county ordinance .

That kid was most likely mouthing off to seem cool to his friends. We've all seen it, probably even done it. I don't think the cop was out of line. Hell, they were apparently pulling up some sort of grate, and he was trying to give them a warning until they became lippy. He did take it too far by threatening to break the kid's arm. However, the law is fairly clear about skateboarding in California and San Francisco.

California State law

1. Allows transit boards, public agencies, and local authorities to adopt rules or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions for, the use of skateboards on public property under the jurisdiction of that agency. (CA Vehicle Code §21113 and §21967. CA Penal Code §640 sets maximum allowable fines for violation of these restrictions at $250/violation). [see a) through d) below]

2. Prohibits motorized skateboards on streets, sidewalks, "or any other part of a highway or on any bikeway, bicycle path or trail, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail." (CA Vehicle Code §21968. Interestingly, California passed SB441 in October 1999 allowing motorized scooters on public roadways under certain conditions1.)

3. Requires skateboarders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet on any street, bikeway, or other public bicycle path or trail and establishes a fine of $25/violation (CA Vehicle Code §21212. Also applies to roller and in-line skates, bicycles, and non-motorized scooters).

4. Requires riders wear a helmet, kneepads, and elbow pads at designated skate parks. (CA Health and Safety Code §115800) [see d) below]

San Francisco City and County law

a) Prohibits skateboarding on any city street at any time, on any sidewalk in any business district at any time, and on any non-business district sidewalk commencing 30 minutes after sunset and ending 30 minutes before sunrise (Traffic Code, Section 100)

b) Prohibits skateboarding "in or about any public transit station (including an outdoor high-level boarding platform), streetcar, cable car, motor coach, trolley coach or other public transit vehicle, including, but not limited to, those stations or vehicles operated by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District" (Traffic Code, Section 128)

c) Prohibits skateboarding in Yerba Buena Gardens, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Arboretum, Conservatory Valley, where it is posted as prohibited, and in South Beach Park or Rincon Park unless otherwise permitted (Park Code Sections 3.05 and 11.02 and Port Code Sections 2.4 and 7.2).

d) Requires skateboarders at skating facilities owned or operated by the City and County to wear helmets, kneepads, and elbow pads (Park Code Section 4.17).

Without knowing exactly where they were, it's hard to tell if they were breaking the law by skateboarding, maybe someone from SF can tell us their location. However, they were most certainly breaking the law by pulling up the... whatever it was. The cop just seems misinformed about the law.

[thaidiver]

Apparently California uses smiley faces in its traffic codes!

[Cann0n]

Cops and hubris go together like spaghetti and meat balls.

[Sho Nuff]

i'll feel better next time i'm in San fran-pshyco knowing that those dangerous hood-lems are off the street..,

[grahamgdk]

Apparently California uses smiley faces in its traffic codes!

Not just any smiley...cool stunna shade smiley.

[the cruisader]

Officer R. is pissed off because he has to patrol in Barbie's car.

[eastvalleymike]

You gotta love the former High school football players that are bitter, gotta wear a badge to feel cool.
Im not attacking every cop out there, I have had my run ins with some very cool ones who simply said "Please Leave", but Riveri seems like a complete douche!!

[rosewood thief]

im not going to take sides here. both were assholes.

[Chrispy23]

I thought the officer was relatively mellow for a cop. Compared to NJ State Troopers and LAPD I've dealt with he was a pussy cat. The break your arm comment came because if the kid resisted arrest, again, he would be subdued with an arm or wrist lock that would break his "twiggy" appendeges.

Open your mouth and call a cop a f'ing dick you need to deal with the consequences, which won't be pleasant. He got off light.

[thaidiver]

Not just any smiley...cool stunna shade smiley.

Well, it is California...

[AFTT]

The kid got what he deserved.

I don't like that he was cited for skateboarding, but he deserved punishment.

He mouthed off the cop and he got in trouble for it.

Had he kept his mouth shut, things would have been much easier for him.

[twirlinhippie]

I'm betting that kid wished he had taken the ibuprofen now! I did find it rather humorous that the officer stated to the off-camera citizen that he/she had a perfect legal right to do whatever he/she wanted to do, all the while arresting someone for doing what they wanted to do. Oh well, pick your battles I say.

[dozer jr]

"yeah and that's what i used to tell my mom when i kicked my little brother"
that video was great. i woulda just put a ####### dent in his car with my board.

[n3rrd]

"yeah and that's what i used to tell my mom when i kicked my little brother"
that video was great. i woulda just put a ####### dent in his car with my board.

Don't be an idiot: no you wouldn't.