CONTACT: Susan Harding, Acting Public Information Officer, 301-600-1385
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2006

CITY TO ENFORCE NON-MOTORIZED
VEHICLE ORDINANCES: TO INCLUDE SCOOTERS,
SKATEBOARD, IN-LINE SKATES, ROLLER-SKATES, ROLLERBLADES, BICYCLES

Frederick, MD. --- Please be advised that beginning the second week of September 2006, the Frederick Police Department will initiate increased and strict enforcement of the city’s non-motorized conveyances ordinances.

Public safety factors, the apparent ineffectiveness of warnings, as well as instances of municipal and private property damage have brought about this emphasis on enforcement. Individual Frederick citizens, citizen groups, Neighborhood Advisory Councils, and downtown business and property owners have expressed a strong desire for the enforcement of these ordinances.

The city ordinance defines non-motorized wheeled vehicles to include “scooters, skateboards, in-line skates, roller-skates, rollerblades, bicycles and any other vehicle with one or more wheel(s) that is propelled by human power.”

Ordinances specifically state “A person over the age of ten (10) may not operate, ride on or use any non-motorized wheeled vehicle on any sidewalk in the historic district of the City of Frederick.” It also states that throughout the entire city “A person may not operate, ride on or use any non-motorized wheeled vehicle on any public parking ramp, parking lot, or facility or any other municipally owned property.”

Other aspects of the ordinance include: all persons under the age of sixteen (16) must wear a protective helmet which meets Maryland State standards, and must not operate in a careless or imprudent manner that endangers safety or property, or negligent manner.

Violations of these ordinances will constitute municipal infractions and will be punishable by fines not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for each violation, plus potential court costs. Police will impound non-motorized wheeled vehicles and “Upon payment of any fine … the non-motorized wheeled vehicle may be reclaimed by the defendant, by the parent or other legal guardian if the dependent is under the age of eighteen (18).”

The city offers an alternative for these recreational activities. Located at Hill Street Park the city offers the Hill Street Skate Park for most non-motorized wheeled vehicles such as skateboards and diverse varieties of skates.

“In the spirit of community policing, many Frederick stakeholders from different parts of the community have met with us and city government. They voiced their opinion that these existing and explicit ordinances be enforced for both public safety and property damage reasons,” said Chief Kim C. Dine. “The city offers a safer and centralized venue rather than sidewalks and public gathering areas.”

City non-motorized wheeled vehicle ordinances are available to the citizenry via the city’s internet site under “The Code of the City of Frederick” Chapter 22 Streets and Sidewalks. The Internet address is: www.cityoffrederick.com/Charter_DATA/TITLE22. The Frederick Police Department encourages its citizens to read the full city code as it applies to these vehicles in Sec. 22-28.1; Sec 22.28.3 through Sec 22-28.6;
and Sec 22-28.8.