City Tightens Regulations on Skateboarding, Bicycling

The city is tightening its control over Easley's skateboarders and bike-riders after passing an updated version of an existing ordinance Monday night.

The ordinance, originally passed in 1997, governs the use of bicycles, skateboards, and toy vehicles within the city limits and banned their use on private property.

"The ordinance basically had seven or eight words changed from when it was originally passed," Easley Police Chief William Traber said. 

Traber said the new ordinance now reads: "It shall be unlawful to ride bicycles, skateboards, and toy vehicles upon any private property and/or city property without express permission."

The city deemed the change to the ordinance necessary since the completion of the new amphitheater and gazebo downtown.

"Both of those areas have already seen damage from skateboarding," Traber said.

The ordinance can't be enforced if either the private properties or city properties lack the proper signage warning the skateboarders, bicyclists, or other hobbyists of the rules. The city currently has several signs posted at Old Market Square and at the new gazebo.

Traber said the ordinance won't necessarily prevent any activities involving skateboards or bicycles from taking place in Old Market Square, but it would require organizers to get permission from the city.

"Right now we're issuing citations," Traber said about anyone caught disobeying the posted rules. A citation issued for skateboarding could cost you $81.88. If you cause any damage, that amount could be significantly higher.

"Anyone who's skateboarding and causes damage to the property, we'll charge them with malicious damage to property," Traber said. "That's a $1,087 fine."

If the fines aren't enough to dissuade a skateboarder from trying a tail slide on an Old Market Square curb, the officer that issues the citation will most likely also confiscate their skateboard and hold it for five days.