The bipartisan push to change skateboarding laws in Wisconsin

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Skateboarding laws in Wisconsin could change under a bipartisan effort that seeks to overhaul restrictions on skateboards.

Two Democrats are renewing legislation to eliminate a statewide ban on skateboarding after a similar proposal failed to pass about a decade ago. This year, the measure has broad bipartisan support.

It's currently illegal to skateboard on public streets and roads because skateboards are considered "play vehicles" under state law.

State Rep. Representative Alex Joers (D-Middleton) and Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) are co-authoring a bill to change that.

The bill to repeal the statewide ban would allow municipalities to pass skateboarding ordinances to determine whether riding on roadways is legal or not.

Supporters argue skateboarding is a legitimate mode of transportation and that the ban is inequitable.

"If I wanted to go to the Amoco (gas station) and skate out on the street to grab a bottle of water, I'm technically violating state law and that doesn't make any sense to me," said Scott May, a skateboarder from Madison.

May, who began skateboarding in the early 1990s, believes the bill could have a positive impact on kids who pursue skateboarding but often fear they might get in trouble for doing something they enjoy.

"You shouldn't be hassled for what you chose to do in your leisure time," May said. "Skateboarding is a safe and healthy outdoor activity for a certain type of kid and is something they gravitate to. So, I think it's part of a cultural narrative that really needs to change."

Penalties for skateboarding violations include warnings and sometimes fines that can range anywhere from $10 to $50.

"It's not necessarily that a police officer is going to give a citation, but there's always that threat that you are doing something that is illegal," said Sen. Larson. "Even if it's just a warning, it prevents kids from going out there doing their businesses."

Based on a CBS 58 review, some police departments are more strict than others when issuing citations.

Police departments in southeastern Wisconsin that have skateparks in their communities- including Milwaukee, Deerfield, Greenfield, Shorewood, and Wauwatosa- all reported issuing zero citations over the last decade.

Meanwhile, the Madison Police Department issued 80 tickets over the last two decades.

"I think changing this law will go a long way in normalizing and mainstreaming us," May said.

Larson said he hasn't heard of any opposition to the proposal and hopes the bill will move quickly through Legislature.

"I think some of the people that were skateboarders back when they were kids are now legislators," Larson said. "There's enough of them around the Capitol that I think we can pass this. It might not be the triumph of landing a kickflip, but it might just be a shoulder shrug and saying, yeah, this should have been done a long time ago."