Skateboard activity results in tickets for three juveniles
Three Peabody juveniles were ticketed Wednesday night in the 100 block of Walnut, according to Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman.
Pohlman said he and Sergeant Bruce Burke were contacted by citizens who complained of the young people skateboarding in the middle of the street.
"They were a traffic hazard," said Pohlman. "They were in the middle of the street skating and traffic was being diverted into the wrong lane to avoid them.
"Kids and their parents need to realize that there is an ordinance in the Standard Traffic Ordinance book for Kansas cities prohibiting anyone from using public streets for their skating activities," Pohlman said.
Section 136 of the STO states, "Use of coasters, roller skates and similar devices restricted. No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street at a crosswalk and except upon streets set aside as play streets."
"From now on if we catch them they will be ticketed," said Pohlman.
"These three will appear in court. They will be assessed a fine and they will have to pay the fine and court costs," he added. "We intend to continue issuing tickets as long as it's necessary."
Peabody Recreation Commission and Peabody City Council currently are looking at the cost, liability, and maintenance involved in a municipal skate park.
"I'm not against the kids having a place to skate," said Pohlman. "But the middle of the main street is not it.
"I hope the council and rec board can get enough support to build a proper facility. It's really what we should have."
