Tampa Agrees: Skateboarding Is Not A Crime!
A young man in Ukraine rides his skateboard.
Whoa! Tampa’s City Council just voted to legalize skateboarding. That means skateboarders who used to get cited and fined for breaking the law with their skateboards will now only recieve a warning. First weed, now this!
For decades, riding a skateboard on many streets in Tampa and Ybor was illegal. You were also forbidden to ride on any city street, road or roadway. It was even against the law to ride in bike lanes. I guess that leaves your own driveway and porch. Officers were permitted to cite skateboarders and make them appear in court, but that rarely happened with the old law. A possible fine is still being discussed, but only for skaters who are problematic. Also, if there is damage to property due to skateboarding, fines and fees may be assessed. A criminal mischief charge would be the most likely punishment. Most members of Tampa’s City Council are against fines for skaters, saying that most offenders can’t afford the typical $75 ticket.
With the recent rising popularity of scooters, one council member pointed out that any legislation that refers to skateboards should also apply to all similar vehicles. While there are laws pertaining to scooters and bicycles on the books, the fines are generally lower than those that are issued for skateboards. Source: CLTampa.com
America Has Its Own Skateboarding Team
Who Are The Members of the USA Skateboarding Team?
This year’s Tokyo Olympics is the first time skateboarding is being added to the slate of summer sports. The U.S. has pioneered competitive skateboarding since the ’70s.
Skateboarding is split into two competitions: Park and street. (There is no vert competition on a halfpipe at the Olympics)
Park is designed to represent a skate park atmosphere. It’s a blend of street elements and vert, using concrete bowls and humps to provide air time for skaters. It requires athletes to be well-rounded, having skills to street skate.
The second is street, which is designed to emulate urban environments. While competition will take place in a custom-built course, it will be much closer to the feeling of skating on a street. Rather than bowls and lips, skaters will use ramps, rails and stairs to score points during runs.
Check out who makes up Team USA’s Park and Street teams.
Who’s Ready For Christmas? Too Soon?
Sean Roberts was conceived in the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky by two passionate, panel aligning, third shifters who had grown bored with the same ole same ole. Upon birth, he was placed in the trunk of a new Stingray and sent off to find his destiny.
That destiny included several stints on radio stations across the United States. Some played punk country gospel, while others focused on Croatian death metal played backwards.
After many years and many adventures, Sean wound up on The Shark, where he does shots of tequila while playing the most badass tunes ever created by humankind.
He remains humble, however, never forgetting about the lean years...the street corners and dark alleys where he played songs on his car stereo for food and sex.
He's on top and he's never gonna stop LIVING THE DREAM!
