Last time I checked, most skateboards are without motor. The law states "motorvehicle". So by that logic, if you're on a down hill on your bicycle, you better be pedaling the entire time or you may get cited by the police.

What a joke.

Here are just a few observations on my part giving that I live one street away from the playground.
1. The "no skateboarding" sign has been vandalized and removed once again over the weekend. I wonder if the "good kids" know what happened to it?
2. Does anyone notice how clean the basketball area has been for the last couple of weeks now that the Police Department have actually been enforcing the "no skateboarding" there? Hmmm I wonder where all the trash was coming from?
3. Has anyone noticed the large groups of kids actually being able to play basketball on the basketball court now that there are not skateboarders there? It is a basketball court folks, not a skateboard park.
4. My son does not skateboard. My son plays soccer and hockey. Being the responsible parent that I am, I take him to the correct venues to play his sports. There is a skatepark in Bristol, Newport and Middletown. Time to step up the plate parents and take a little responsibility for your children.
5. If these kids had not vandalized, littered, disrespected and caused havoc in the playground, I seriously doubt it would be such an issue for the Police Department. It is obvious that there are many children and parents who are lacking respect for town property, town rules and the police department.

Thank you to the Chief Hebert, the Portsmouth Police Department and the Department of Public Works for cleaning this area up.
Now let's keep it clean!

what a joke.

How many clergy folks do u see skateboarding? I'm sure the fine young men whom have now been identified by mom are fine young men on skateboards. However. Evr deal with kids on skateboards while trying to play basketball and they are using the court? Not good. This is always an issue as to where to skate. No one wants the skater on their block of pavement. Maybe the old dump could be capped with se pavement to be used as a skate park?

This Should be discussed more. We should have skate board appropriate equipment area. Therese worse things kids could be doing or not doing. Like not going out side and being active. Outside activity are important for there health, body,mind. We shield are kids to much sometimes. Helmets should be required and daytime skate boarding only. The park has tables for eating,sitting etc. Don't use tables or any thing else in the park for skateboarding or any other activity's .That not what it is made for.

Charge the skateboarders to use this area. Create a separate insurance and maintenance policy for this area. This way everyone wins. However this is an ongoing issue let's see what the town council has to say. If I were a skater I'd go to the town hall when it is to be discusses and actively fight for it. Instead of going to the police station so that the troopers can see what good kids are. Let's not waste their time and torture them at the same time. The kids should stand in front of the town council. Also the video will rape them so all of Portsmouth can see what fine townspeople they are

It's difficult because I wonder if they simply learn to clean up after themselves and give people space to use the basketball court - .... if we can't just all get along. The streets are totally unsuitable to skate on. It would be ideal to share the space. Banning skateboarding outright just doesn't feel like a fair solution. And those same skateboarders that allegedly leave trash could still hang there and cause the same alleged trouble whether they are skateboarding or not. I think the issue is not with skateboarding so let them do it. but The insurance argument is a joke. They've used that since the dawn of time. We should also outlaw chewing bubblegum and talking at the same time if we are going that route.

This playground is not designed for skateboarders. This idea has already been rejected by the Town Council. If the parents want a skatepark for their children, then I would suggest they find an APPROPRIATE location and work with the town to build one. They already had an opportunity to work with the school department and they blew it. If you want your kids to skateboard then take them to an approved skatepark where it is supervised and they are required to wear helmets. We live in a small, congested neighborhood and I applaud the Chief and his department for putting a stop to this nonsense.

Few things in civic life are more dangerous to liberty than a bored, small-town police department.

If this is even on their radar (all puns intended), instead of going after the teachers next time around, maybe its time to think about a smaller Portsmouth PD to save the tax payers some money.

how many violations of any laws or ordinances in place in the Town of Portsmouth are on record at the Police Dept. regarding skateboarders in the last 3 years?

Let's hear what the kids have to say to support their issue. A great learning opportunity for all involved.

As someone who lives next to the park there has never been a sign until 2 weeks ago. Most of the kids in the neighborhood who skate were well aware to not bring ramps or other apparatus for jumping. They were respectful to the kids playing basketball. This neighborhood really needs to come together and build an appropriate skateboard area. Also I am a responsible parent and bring our child to other venues on the island but it would be nice to have an area in OUR COMMUNITY PARK.

I would bet the complaints are only a couple if people. The skateboard sign is new and has not been up for a couple of years. The rigl does not pertain to skateboards, however disorderly conduct does, obstructing the roadway. They need to board on the side or breakdown lane like a bicycle. People do not knock skateboarding, kids love it and gets them outside, better than playing video games. The trash is from all the kids, not just skates. Try looking at the PMS basketball court when those kids are done playing, trash everywhere.

Lori…I just want to point out that I live only three houses from the outdoor basketball courts at the high school. I see kids skateboarding there quite often. They don’t tend to litter the area. It’s the people (adults and kids) that come there to play basketball that usually leave the litter.

Dan

Lori lets address #1 The sign being vandalized was done by one kid...this does not make them all bad #2 Did you not NOTICE that the kids that have been playing basketball the last two weeks are the skaters. Your comments are false. These kids are playing bball because they can't skate. I find it hard to believe they only liter while skating. Pretty ridiculous comment! #3 AGAIN THESE ARE THE SKATERS AND NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS. The reason for the large number of kids playing basketball is the NICE weather. Another ridiculous comment!!! #4 I am a parent of three children and work full time. I am very responsible. I do not have the time when I get home to drive my son to another town to skate. Why should I take him elsewhere. Do you bring your child to a specific place to ride their bike? #5 Maybe you need to look up the definition of "HAVOC" because there are only a few of you who see it this way. Maybe the police department is all over this because they are sick of hearing the ridiculous complaints from you and the few others. Maybe you should worry about the neighbor who drives through the back roads of Island park under the influence almost daily. This is now my concern since my son has to share the road with this man!!!

I think I hear the theme song to "Footloose" in the background...

I think you should all take your concerns to the Chief. Seen as though he has obviously made this decision, I am sure he has valid reasons for it. It appears that he has already explained his reasons to you but for some reason you are all still not getting it.

There are far more important issues going on in Island Park at this time that families and homeowners should be concerning themselves with.

Portsmouth seems to be one of the few towns left around here that doesn't have a skatepark, myself and manyother people put our change in jars around town to help biuld this for this kids,now for anyone who notices this was kinda pushed away and it will not go away

@Lori-I have brought my concerns to Bob Driscol.I have asked him to send me a copy of the ordinance as I have not found one. When the town puts a sign up that affects everyone, we do have a right to question it.

If you read the article it states that "At this point in time, there are no ordinances prohibiting skateboarding anywhere in Portsmouth. That may change, however." if there is no ordince then the police can not stop kid from skatebording . There job is to enforce the law not make one up. You just cant post a sign with no ordince to back it up it would never hold up in court. Its time the police lean that they just cant do whatever they feel like this is not a police state. Enforce the law dont try to make it up.

given the size of the island park , uum, park i believe their is enough of an area for a small pad to be poured for such a park and this is a park, not a baseball park, not a basketball park, not a no kites park it,s a PARK, why would crime watch stop this? for what, you don't think some kid into skateboarding wouldn't sell out a punk kid on the side?rather see my kids there than walking around bored looking for something to do.

Lori you should be ashamed of yourself. Your comments are nothing short of stereotyping. I am appauled that in this day and age a grown women with children of her own would make such ignorant comments. Arent we supposed to be teaching our children tolerance and not to label others. Not all kids are into soccer and sports. We should encourage our kids to pursue any talent that pleases them and to be themselves. Its bad enough kids have to face judgment of piers. They shouldnt have to worry about being stereotyped by adults, especially law enforcement. Not all skateboarders are bad kids.
The TOWN should be more worried about poisonous dirt effecting the health of our children then they are about taking a recreational activity away from them.
Bye the way , aside from sports what does the town of Portsmouth have to offer our adolescence for recreation ?

The law Chief Hebert is referring to can be found in Rhode Island General Laws Title 31-19-19, which 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 on a crosswalk, and when so crossing, the person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street by a duly authorized police authority."

If I read this right all the kids have to do is find a crosswalk on park ave and they can skate back and forth and traffic has to stop for them. It make more sense to let them skate in the playground

"Even lately, we've had bicyclists jumping ramps on the basketball courts," This is a quote from the cheif. Doesn't sound like just a skateboarding problem. I think you should ban everyone from the park and just put anopther landfill there. Problem solved.

I notice this is also a big problem at the elmhurst basketball courts, those little bastrds tore the sign down before it got up, worse than the parkers

how many complaits are filed about this that it has become such a large problem, come on now it cannot be that big someone do a neighborhod survey or something, look at adresses build a fence, no kids at park, no reason for police patrol, less safer neighborhood

Easy boys and girls lets sort it out not get personal ok odds are that right now the bikers and skaters and ball players are down there right now just passin time and getting along, with at least one parent or older sibling makeing sure peace prevails and th e police just cruise by or stop and talk, don't be getting acting like spoiled kids ok

This would be so much more pleasant to read, if any of you could spell or use the correct words to get your point across.

Once again a valid and important (because it deals with our kids) discussion gets sidetracked with snide comments and personal attacks.

1st: Jim L, only Parkers can use the term "Parkers"
2nd: The Skateboarders and Basketball Players do not get along, and generally, the Basketball Players are older and larger. And collisions have happened between the two when the court is trying to be shared. Also, the equipment that the Skateboarders brought onto the court caused a few Basketball Players to trip over the old metal ramps/rails/cinderblocks. Not pretty. It is a Basketball court, not a skatepark, it is meant for Basketball and Basketball only.
3rd: Portsmouth Concered Citizen, you claimed "What is funny is that you think basketball produces less hoodlums and kids who are defiant of the law than skateboarding." The thing is, that is the truth currently. The majority of the Basketball Players are much more older and mature than the majority of the Skateboarders and they are not hoodlums at all. They are respectful of the area, clean up the little trash that they produce than the younger and less mature Skateboarders. This is mostly because the Basketball Players bring their keys and phones and barely produce trash because they are not at the Park to hang out, they are there to play Basketball, unlike the Skateboarders. So, to reiterate, it is a Basketball Court and that is all it is, not anything else.
4th: With that being said, I agree that the Skateboarders deserve their own area, either with ramps/equipment or not in the area. It wouldn't exactly be expensive, and it would give everybody their own space.

How about a dance off between the town council and the skaters. Grease style. That would be awesome. Also a drunk guy inthe pArk maze that drives around? What is up with this? Get the description etc and let the police know of this guy

The police should should be chasing the speeders and aggressive drivers down our main streets rather then chasing kids on skateboards.

Does anyone have a issue with Chief Heberts comment about keeping the kids safe and off the streets. Then why would you kick them out of the park and put them in the streets. To that lady who is descriminating the skateboarders, I know for a fact that after a basketball game that was just played Sunday by a lot of older Island Park kids and others, that they left all there trash on the ground near the benches. So I dont think that you can blame the skaters for that one. Another comment that was made about the basketball players and the skaters arguing is not true my son does not skate board and has never come home saying they were arguing over who gets the court, they share it. They are all friends they all live in the same neighborhood and there is not an issue. Kids are slobs just like at home. I am down at the park often with my kids and grand daughter who is 3 she loves to try and skate with the boys and play basketball, there have been times when the park is a mess and all I had to do was ask the kids to stop what they are doing and start picking up the trash, with no problem at all. They know if they all worked together it gets done faster. I also have another son who likes to skateboard and he now is afraid to because of the threat of the Police taking his board and I do not like him to skate on the street the park was safer but now he cant. Isn't a shame that you scared that crap out of child. Hope you all are proud of yourselves.

As a 15 year old teen that lives in Island Park I am ashamed of what is happening. Why are people fighting about this? Let us kids be kids and let us have fun. Just because kids dont like to swing or play basketball doesnt mean they cant go to the park. I have never seen an abundance of litter at the park and when i did see some it was never from skaters. And to Lori Stevens i am amazed by your comments. Your a mother and allow your child to do things that he likes to do. Just because you dont like skateboarding doesnt mean it shouldnt be allowed. As for safety i have never heard of any injuries happening from skating at the park so that is a nonfactor. I go play basketball at the park all the time and never have a problem sharing it with the skaters. Yes, you parents teach us to share and we do it well. We came together raised the money for a skatepark and parents shut it down. Why cant they let us be kids? By not allowing kids to skate you deny them the right to express themselves. I am willing to do everything possible to earn back the right that has unfairly been taken from me. In two days over the weekend i saw a police car pass by 10 times while last summer i saw then come by once or twice. It is intimidating to see an officer come by a place of children and recreation. Calling skaters hodlums is just crossing the line. Thats sterotypical and just wrong. I speak for kids across America by saying LET US BE KIDS AND HAVE FUN! We are only kids once!!!

Concerned Mother, you proclaimed "To that lady who is descriminating the skateboarders, I know for a fact that after a basketball game that was just played Sunday by a lot of older Island Park kids and others, that they left all there trash on the ground near the benches. So I dont think that you can blame the skaters for that one"

What you have just said is false. There was a game played yes, however there was no trash left by the Basketball Players. The only items brought by them were Cell Phones, Ipods, and Sweatshirts/Jackets. Not one of them brought food or drinks. If there was any trash around it was there beforehand, they picked up their items and left. So yes, you could blame the skateboarders/small children for that.

Also, there is a problem with sharing the court. When it is attempted, the Skateboarders cross sides to get momentum to perform their trick, which causes traffic during the Basketball games. There can't be both Skateboarders and Basketball Players on the same side of the court which ends up happening constantly. Also, you can't share a Court that has outside equipment brought onto it like the Skateboarders did.

Just because your son doesn't tell you that he has never been in a disagreement doesn't mean that they do not occur frequently.

So what I am saying is please check your facts before you post something, Thank You.

The problem isnt the skaters or the basketball players its the parents that need to grow up the kids show more common sense then the adults

Kids are skateboarding in other neighborhoods, yet there seems to be no "police harassment" in those neighborhoods ... this leads me to believe that the complaints of a few are getting "the squeaky wheel gets the oil" from the town council and the police department. If the council and police are going to bend RI General state laws, OR sneak off and add / change ordinances (which I have personally seen happen in this town) to give them the legal power to carry out their plans, then they need to enforce it in whole town and not just target the Island Park kids to appease the few disgruntled people that apparently have some sort of influence over the council and PD.

Jon you need to make sure that you also have your facts straight. We both have our own views on the issue, that is what I see and hear from the kids and what you see. There has not been any skating on the basketball court for two weeks. If basketball is the only thing being played on the court than who could the trash be from, the trash fairy. The Older kids should have pitched in and picked up the trash even if it wasn't them. If you are having a problem when you want to play basketball than you should be for the kids getting a piece of cement so they will stay off the court. How ever the ramps and boardes should not be allowed due to the fact that they are not stable and we dont want the kids to get hurt. I think that if you talk to the kids in the park they are good kids and they will listen to what you have to say. Anyway there not allowed on the court anymore so you should have no more worries, they will just play basketball so you still have to share. Thank you for your imput.

before there ever was a skateboard in this town trash was left at basketball courts, and the tennis courts rocks bottles sticks butts you can't play basketball or skateboard with stuff laying around, it twists your ankle and stops your wheels, okay so please stop all that nonesence, you folks made it sound like it's a construction site, look around you folks, if this is the biggest problem in island park then your lucky, someone or a few someones on here think other folks can't raise honest dependable kid,s, I have read nothing about bullie or fights, you can't tell me that youger kids are not down there in nice weather, hey got a cell phone trouble, call a cop, but don't sit in the bush's whispering THEIR DOING IT AGAIN, one of those kids might become a cop or fireman and save your life on day

Rach...it isn't the kids who have a problem with sharing it's Lori Stevens and her group of friends. How petty is it for them to want to take something away from these kids that they love...really says something about their character. Our children are going to suffer because their children do not skateboard. I would never bully someone elses child because I personally didn't like something they did. And the biggest shame of all is I personally know some of these people and I know they are not exactly model citizens, even as adults. It's also a shame that Lance Hebert would rather make them happy then actually help out the children.

Concerned Mother. Read all of the comments more carefully please. You say "If you are having a problem when you want to play basketball than you should be for the kids getting a piece of cement so they will stay off the court." even though I said earlier that "I agree that the Skateboarders deserve their own area, either with ramps/equipment or not in the area. It wouldn't exactly be expensive, and it would give everybody their own space." Please stop making assumptions and please read with more attention. Thank you for your input though.

Rachael Stone. The makority of the time the skaters do have a problem moving out of the way, they usually back-talk when the Basketball Players ask and they always ontinue to skate and cross sides to where the Basketball Players are playing. I'm not saying the Basketball Players are innocent, but just because they haven't been Skateboarding does not mean they haven't been in the park generating trash. Also, there is one other area where Basketball can be played in the town, it is at the High School where there are 3 courts, one of which is missing an entire basket, another of which one of the baskets is damaged, and the third thankfully the baskets are still attached but the rim tilts to either side when the ball hits the rim. If there are other courts then the Skaters can also go there to skateboard. The Skaters can find other places around town much easier than the Basketball Players. Also, when I was growing up there were a group of teenagers who used to play Basketball all day every day using both sides, no small child was allowed to play and nobody was allowed to skate or bike or anything, this was only about 6-8 years ago.

Wasn't it Chief Hebert who declared that "there are plenty of things for kids in Portsmouth to do" at the Substance Abuse forum at PHS? Now he is trying to take one of those things away from kids? Sort of hypocritical, I think.

if you read correctly Rachael said that it was skateboaders who were nice to her son and let him have space to ride....and we have grown up in Island park for 30 years and experianced most of the older kids are good to the little ones! And to everyone who label a group of children its just really sad because you have good and bad kids in every group. I personally don't love when there is an aggresive game of basketball going on and the boys are yelling and swearing when they miss a shot, as a have 2 young children that are playing and can hear them. And to say that the kids playing basketball do not produce trash is just crazy, I have yet to see a group of kids playing b-ball and not bring drinks with them I mean come on really! I also agree that the b-ball court should be for playing ball, but it is most of the people complaining about this that patitioned the slab of cement that they wanted for the kids to skate. Kids swear kids don't pick up stuff if not told, thats life and does not make them bad. And for anyone to say no my child is lying!! so my question is when I'm at the playground with my small children should I call the police when the kids on the b-ball court are yelling and swearing?

It sounds to me like Trish Lovett has quite a chip on her shoulder. She has noone to blame for this but figures because I voiced my observations of the situation, then I am to blame. I am a single mother raising my son ALONE. I posted my observations and now you feel that I am the one responsible for the police departments decisions regarding this. Signally me out and my "group of friends" is as much untrue as 3/4 of what is on this site. A member of the Island Park Recreation Association have enlightened me on many of the previous events with this playground, which to me has been a problem area for quite some time. I am a homeowner, who pays my fair share of taxes, flood insurance and homeowners insurance. Given that I do live in this neighborhood, I am concerned for the well being of all. Like it or not, these are my observations. Take your childish complaints to the Chief because from the articles that I have read it is he who has made these decisions.

Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note
Don't worry be happy
In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double
Don't worry, be happy......

The end result is they should address the issue by giving them a park to skate at like they been asking for years! Until then they have no right to discriminate against what activities take place at a PARK the was built with YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!! Why hasn't the Chief put up TOXIC signs on Park Ave near the dumping ground? Are the going to warn swimmers this summer that the water they might be swimming in may have poisons in it? (Watershed Area) There are bigger problems that need to be addressed in Portsmouth and its a shame they are trying to influenced their POLICE STATE on children playing in a PARK.

" The law Chief Hebert is referring to can be found in Rhode Island General Laws Title 31-19-19, which 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 on a crosswalk, and when so crossing, the person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street by a duly authorized police authority."

Are you kidding me? This is what he threw out there... How many streets do you see kids playing on all over the state! Would you rather them stay inside and play video games and not be active and healthy? I say that we get together and drive around on a nice summer day and video tape kids all over the state enjoying these activities like WE ALL DID WHEN WE WERE KIDS!! Then we can take those videos to the town meeting and the "CHIEF" can then explain why it is not being enforced in those neighborhoods! Its a shame Island park will always be the black sheep of Portsmouth and that they cant find better ways to spend YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!

I do not think that Trish has a "chip on her shoulder" I think she adressed you directly in this conversation because you are being condesending and labeling a group of children, which her child happens to be in!! I as a parent would also be upset if you were saying negative things about my children as would you as a parent. There are plenty of other homeowners of Island Park in this conversation and they are voicing their opinions and observations so to say that most of it is untrue is also an unfair statement to make! And their are plenty of women who raise children ALONE. That is great for them, but I do not understand what that has to do with this subject and I'm not sure what your point is with that statement. Do you think you are better than us mothers who still have our families intact like they should be or are you looking for some kind of sympathy?

Also like to point out the LACK OF CROSSWALKS!!! Maybe they could have spent money on that instead of a sign!

oh and you speak of the playground as a "problem area" I was brought up here in IP and now have my own family and home here and in my 30 years have never known it to be problem area, so for all the people that feel that way maybe you should relocate.

"According to Portsmouth Police Chief Lance Hebert, folks who had built the gear were advised by the town that it had to be removed due to liability concerns."

Really? So what about all the times I sprained ankles or jammed fingers playing basketball & broke fingers playing football there? Where were you then telling me you are liable for my injuries? Not to mention all the kids that have been hurt playing in activities there in the past. Kids get hurt playing and they will heal like we all did when we were young!

"Our main goal as a Police Department is to keep the peace in that area as best we can," Hebert said."

Really? So if that was your main goal you wouldn't be picking on children enjoying activities at a park

Quotes were from blog posted on the link below
http://www.torvex.com/jmcdaid/node/1291

Right now there is no ordence about skatebording in this town that means the police have no right to tell the kids they cant skate in a park paid for with tax dollars. I now no one wants to see there kids arrested but that is what need to happen so this can go to court and be thrown out then the parent can sue the police dept. maybe then the cheif will learn that he cant make up his own law

and it is also is contridicting that the ordinance actually supports that the kids should be skating in the park..that ordinance pertanes to roadways not playgrounds its just rediculious, people claim for the police to be involved it must be an issue, but the issue is people calling the police down there.. if the police were not being called everyday cause the kids are skating there would have never been an issue. And obviously the people who opposed there being any area designated for skating in the playground are ones calling the police. And the arguement is that they are interferering with people wanting to play b-ball.If they were given their own area to skate everyone could co-exist happily, but for some unknown reason there is a group so opposed to skateboarding. The whole thing is just really sad we want our kids to be happy and healthy and yet we are rescricting what they are allowed to do. Hopefully they don't turn to just sitting around playing video games getting high. I have loved growing up here in IP and looked forward to raising my children here, but with the recent events of the restricting how the children are allowedto use the playground and now the allowance of toxic soil being dumped its time to maybe look into another area! Is my son allowed to ride his scooter or no? cause they do coast on them!

Okay Everyone-This issue has been placed on the Town Council Agenda for this coming Monday, 3/28 @ 7pm. Be there or be square!

What's really sad is seeing this issue rising up at all and taking up police resources, and the council's time. That being said... the history of the council of Portsmouth is as you know has never gone back on a decision so the kids don't stand a chance of ever getting back what they've lost

if you put up enough of a fight you may be suprised...they did change their motion on the IP landfill with enough people in a an uproar, so eveyone should go this meeting and at least put up a fight!

I say we all skateboard to the meeting! Also provide evidence to the chief and the Counsel that children are enjoying these activities on streets across RI. So why is it this so called law isn't being enforced everywhere.

" The law Chief Hebert is referring to can be found in Rhode Island General Laws Title 31-19-19, which 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 on a crosswalk, and when so crossing, the person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street by a duly authorized police authority."

More DUMB RI LAWS that are not being enforced -

- Cap guns are illegal.

- Exercising any labor, business, or work, or using any game, sport, play, or recreation, or causing any of the above to be done to or by your children, servants, or apprentices on the first day of the week (Sunday) results in a penalty of $5 for the first offense and $10 for the second.

- One must make a loud noise before passing a car on the left.

- Passenger Vehicles(excluding SUV) are not allowed to have any window tent on them whatsoever.

City Laws-

- You cannot smoke a pipe after sunset.

- You may not sell toothpaste and a toothbrush to the same customer on a Sunday.

- If a bird makes its nest in your vehicle you are not allowed to use it until the chicks have left the nest.

The point I am trying to make is there are a lot of crazy laws that have been ignored and we all have gone on to live perfectly normal lives. Its a shame kids cant even go out and play and enjoy a activity in a "PARK" without being harassed by the police.

Perhaps we are so long removed from the origination of a free society that we have forgotten its price. Perhaps we have forgotten what freedom is: the absence of government coercion. Perhaps we have forgotten that truly beneficial policies almost always stand on their own merit, without the aid of massive government enforcement agencies.

Perhaps we have begun to take liberty for granted, so we allow it to be chiseled away each year by just a few more taxes, just a few more regulations, just a few more unconstitutional spending programs, just a few more harmless potheads turned into untouchable felons, just a few more unwarranted surveillance operations, just a few more troops on our streets to suppress the political dissenters, just a few more unfounded arrests and detainments, just a few more unnecessary casualties in the never-ending war for universal authority, just a few more computerized balloting systems, and just a little bit more government control.

I feel as if theses cops have nothing better to do so they pick on these children who may not have much opportunity to do much else... these lazy ass cops drive thier $60,000 Dodge Chargers around harrasing people like the unfortunate children. It is an abuse of power and unaccetpable. Why is this so? maybe they are looking for drugs beacuse all skatebaorders are potheheads or something? completly absurd. If these kids are starting trouble kick them out if they arent doing anything, leave them the hell alone Portsmouth Police Department!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS A PUBLIC PARK!!!!!!!!!!!

" 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 on a crosswalk, and when so crossing, the person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians"
There is a crosswark in front of Flo's on Park Ave. Look like this is the new skate park. The law the Cheif quotes allows skating in crosswalks so all the skaters should go there to skate

i think the first place to look is at the crime watch and who and why they voted against this, and if was a minority why is it being inforced if it was not recommend

How did it go at the meeting last night?

We need a skate park in Portsmouth badly! I live in CFP and lately my street has turned into full-blown skate park with 5-8 skaters setting up a ramp and boarding for hours - typciall 5-8 othe kids are there sitting on our lawns, leaving their trash - the constant skateboarding is frankly getting tiredsome and it isn't summer yet! Not to mention, our kids can not play basketball at their own hoops because these kids have taken over the whole roadway ... never mind trying to drive up or down the street!! The kids have a right to skateboard or do whatever sports they like - however,they need a proper facility/area for it - taking up our roadways are not it.