Is there any use in explaining to cops that we really can't ride skateparks?

[nugpop68]

Probably not. However responding respectfully (whether warranted or not) usually goes a long way.

[JeepBro5]

Tell them you appreciate their concern; but that riding a longboard in a skatepark is akin to going dirt jumping on a track bike.


I think I might try that. Can one get arrested for being right?

This is exactly what I've done in differentiating myself as a 'longboarder' from those who ride trick decks. Telling someone on a longboard to stay off the streets and go to a park is like telling someone who rides a road bike to go to a BMX course. Two very different disciplines within what is broadly viewed as the same sport.

[drew]

Hey guys, I do skate parks. Quite a bit actually. But please, you're telling me you'd rather skate a park on your speedboard than bomb a hill?

Well now you're confusing me

Of course a speedboard has no place at a skatepark.

[LTRS]

You're advocating longboards being relegated to skateparks?

Nope. Not sure how you jumped to that conclusion.

[Parallel Man]

Of course a speedboard has no place at a skatepark.

What about a REALLY fast skatepark?

[Speedo]

Well now you're confusing me

Of course a speedboard has no place at a skatepark.

No, but a fast, hard-carving topmount can be very easily turned loose at places like Kona, but you already know that.8)

Doesn't really solve the Police perception & regulation issue elsewhere, though.

[Tagsrover]

What about a REALLY fast skatepark?

What about an all downhill skatepark?

[youngblood21]

yea, that woudlnt work with the skatepark in my town
its a little 30'x30' sqaure of concrete near the library
all it has is:
-a kicker
-a bench
-a box
-2 square rails
-a spine
-a 2ft tall pyramid
the pyramid can entertain a longboard for roughly 20min (at most)
luckily, I havent had any cops tell me to go to a skatepark
but thats probably because I skate bike trails and side roads since theyre more hilly, better pavement, and less cars

[Petary791]

Well this went downhill fast but I think I found my answer. If it ever happens again I'm going to try to educate the officer in a very polite tone. Then if he's a dick, I'll say, "Well it's akin to riding a road bike on a dirt track."

Tagsrover, you better back my ass up.

[BloodBros.Skates]

I don't get it. You're advocating longboards being relegated to skateparks? Even if it's fun (which I agree with), it's still not the right place to longboard.

That's what the manager on duty at Modern Skate Park in Royal Oak, Michigan said to me when I walked in with my longboard and wanted to skate. I responded by explaining that the same mentality was directed towards snowboarders by ski resorts in the 80s and should have died back then with the birth of terrain parks. Now longboards are allowed in that park. What else is there to do on a longboard when the roads are covered in water/snow/ice/salt?

Where exactly is the right place to ride a longboard?

[Tagsrover]

A. Arguing with police = you always ALWAYS loose
B. 95% of police officers have a power inferiority complex, and that is why they became police. You really think they care/will listen/will be proven wrong by some "kid with a toy"

[BloodBros.Skates]

A. Arguing with police = you always ALWAYS loose
B. 95% of police officers have a power inferiority complex, and that is why they became police. You really think they care/will listen/will be proven wrong by some "kid with a toy"

QFT.

Pete, I think the problem you are facing is that you are in East Lansing and the police deal with drunk a$$hole college students everyday. They definitely have a "long arm of the law" complex there and will not be giving that up anytime soon. Buy a headlamp and start riding at night away from areas where the pigs lurk. That is what I do and it seems to work here in Oakland County. Ninja style is the only way.

[drew]

No, but a fast, hard-carving topmount can be very easily turned loose at places like Kona, but you already know that.8)

True true. When he said speedboard I was thinking more of some dropped setup.

CBS always makes it a point to ride a longboard at any park.

YouTube - Downtown Saturday Night Miami field...

YouTube - Downtown Saturday Night Miami field...

[sniffleless]

A. Arguing with police = you always ALWAYS loose
B. 95% of police officers have a power inferiority complex, and that is why they became police. You really think they care/will listen/will be proven wrong by some "kid with a toy"

Too true.
They don't want to discuss it. They just want you to do it. All they want to hear is "yes sir."
I have tried to debate it. Tell people that the skate park really doesn't cater to the type of skateboarding that I mostly like to do. I will try and equate it to other sports. Down South many understand it when I put it this way. It's like telling a Nascar driver to go race down at the drag strip. Sure he could do it but it's not really the same thing. A quarter mile drag strip just isn't suited for stock car racing. Both are car racing but yet not really the same thing. That kind of works on those that are receptive to debate. Most just don't care. Skateboarding is skateboarding and they don't want you skateboarding anywhere but the skate park if even there.

[speshlspeclsteak]

not if your under 30

[nugpop68]

Remember, every person a cop encounters offers a reason for their behavior. ie: Officer, I had to hit her, dinner wasn't even ready! After hearing these BS responses for about 6 months, they natuarally tune out logic, and do their jobs. They do, however, recognize respect because it is an uncommon respone(esp. in the city). Don't waste you're breath with explanations. Try diplomacy. Or not. My brother is a cop and my suggestion is based on empirical info.

[sniffleless]

Respect doesn't always work either. If they are expecting you to argue and not comply they don't know how to respond when you do. That happens to me a lot. I get asked to leave and I say "Okay. Sorry. I won't come back" and then they won't let me leave because they have to tell me why I can't be there or why I should leave and about a dozen stories about what other skaters did. It's like you give them a response that they don't expect and the only thing they can think to do is go into the spiel they give when skaters try to argue the point.

[nugpop68]

Respect doesn't always work either. If they are expecting you to argue and not comply they don't know how to respond when you do. That happens to me a lot. I get asked to leave and I say "Okay. Sorry. I won't come back" and then they won't let me leave because they have to tell me why I can't be there or why I should leave and about a dozen stories about what other skaters did. It's like you give them a response that they don't expect and the only thing they can think to do is go into the spiel they give when skaters try to argue the point.

Granted. In this case you're most likely dealing with a mentally challenged person. But I'd prefer a speil to a summons any day.

[LTRS]

But I'd prefer a speil to a summons any day.

Like that oft-repeated line in Training Day - "You wanna go to jail or you wanna go home?"

[jmasta]

this happened to me once

I had just eaten major #### wearing no pads (n00b!) and was literally gushing blood all over my board. I was just trying to get to my car so I could somehow manage to drive myself home..... and an undercover cop stops me for riding in the street (when I was 100 feet from my car....)

Rather than offering to help me, he has to stop to me for 20 minutes. I;m standing there bleeding all over the street.... but he of course has to take 10 minutes to run my name first! And then lecture me on this was illegal and how I should go to the skatepark.

He never even acknowledged or cared that I was in a crazy amount of pain and bleeding profusely!