Acting Police Chief John LiPuma Orders Skateboarders to Wear Helmets
Acting Ridgewood Police Chief John LiPuma has directed his patrol officers to check the new Ridgewood Skateboard Park at 30-minute intervals to ensure all skateboarders are wearing helmets as posted on signage within the facility.
The Ridgewood Blog 
Why don’t they enforce the bike helmet law first? There are more kids riding bikes on any given day than at the skate park, and my guess is that a bike-car accident is more dangerous than a skateboard accident? Does anyone know why they never give kids tickets or even warnings on bike helmets? Isn’t it the law?
Why don’t they enforce the bike helmet law first
MORE NO FUN POLICE LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE
love it ,kids should wear helmets because adults dont know how to drive
What’s next?
Going after kids on Heelys?
I think it is the law to wear a bike helmet until you are 14, hen you are on your own
Skateboards are vastly more dangerous than riding a bike–there is simply no comparison in terms of risk. Also, this is a Village recreational facility so the PD has a greater interest in enforcing the safety rules (and perhaps potential liability for failing to do so). Finally, the level of resources to police the skate park are minimal–cops drive by that location constantly anyway. Active enforcement of bike helmet laws would have a measurable impact on resouces over time.
1:14 –
So, the cops have a greater interest in enforcing the same law for one group of individuals over another?
They get to decide that enforcing the NJ Bicycle Helmet Statute is to be done for skateboarders and not for bicyclists?
So, the police get to decide that they will protect children on skateboards and not children on bicycles (or discriminate against some children and not others – if you want to look at it that way)?
When did the PD get to decide which laws to enforce and when and against whom?
Re:
“Skateboards are vastly more dangerous than riding a bike–there is simply no comparison in terms of risk.“
Ummm… Wrong:
FROM THE ARTICLE:
Bicycling tops sports with most childhood injuries, study shows
By AZAM AHMED AND JO NAPOLITANO
Chicago Tribune
ACTIVITY and number of emergency room visits…
Bicycles (including mountain bikes) 239,795
Football 220,877
Baseball 84,878
Skateboards 65,130
Scooters, unpowered 37,574
ATVs 32,875
Roller skating 28,559
Softball 27,510
Inline skating 18,712
Lacrosse 5,393
Link to Article:
http://www.silverfishlongboarding.com/forum/100-skateboarding-concrete-wave-magazine/68133-just-how-dangerous-skateboards-well-terms-injuries-bike-riding-tops.html
I guess this will make the Lacrosse Dads happy!
Just leave a roll of reuseable bubble wrap at the facility.
There is a lack of understanding on how to conduct a skateboard park. Just “putting out stuff” is not the way it should have been done.
It’s not an infant playground with parents watching kids. It’s a highly skilled sports activity and requires close supervion and controls.
What now?
…
a john how about geting your men to clean the cop cars and look at the oil .its only done on wednesday thats bull shit.then maybe they will last a bit longer. all other depts check the oil.what some cant get a bit dirty and dont tell me they dont have the time.they have the time to read 2 or 3 newspapers up at the broad st parking lot.ps the fly see,s
Why are the cops now having to waste their resources bothering the kids, when the skate park was put up by parks department? Why can’t some one from the stable which is right next door enforce their own rules? It sounds like a waste of tax payer money again.
they are cops…not mechanics! maybe the garge losers should do their job instead of sitting arounf the table watching tv. the cars don’t last because the mechanics we have suck!!!
Why don’t they just write tickets. It’s Ridgewood. Nothing but bogus tickets. Next they’ll have meters there.
What about enforcing the “no cell phone” law for drivers on E. Ridgewood Ave. as pedestrians try to cross the street? That’s pretty dangerous, too. Patroling the skatepark every 30 minutes for helmets seems like another way of harassing teens who don’t fit the preppie mold of Ridgewood. Finally Ridgewood has given those teens a healthy outlet, only to turn around and try to nab them as potential lawbreakers. How about trying to educate the teens, rather than “catch” them?
I agree with 1:14
They are required to wear helmets and they are on town property. In all organized sports we are required to follow safety guidelines.
Skateboarders don’t have a coach working with them so the police need to remind them of the rule. If someone gets hurt we all know that the town will be sued.
I’m glad someone is finally enforcing laws that we have in Ridgewood. Why make rules if no one is going to enforce them. Good Job LaPuma. keep up the good work…
6:07 AM –
You can agree with 1:14, but you’d be wrong.
Skateboards (like any physical activity) has the potential to cause bodily injury, but skateboarding is not “vastly more dangerous than riding a bike” — not even close.
In fact, based on the FACTS, it would be accurate to reverse that statement — “riding a bike is vastly more dangerous thatn skateboarding”
ACTIVITY and number of emergency room visits…
Bicycles (including mountain bikes) 239,795
Skateboards 65,130
Bike riding is almost 4x as dangerous than skateboarding.
7:51 –
Re: “I’m glad someone is finally enforcing laws that we have in Ridgewood. Why make rules if no one is going to enforce them. Good Job LaPuma. keep up the good work…”
Fixed that fer ya…
I’m glad someone is finally selectively enforcing laws that we have in Ridgewood. Why make rules if the police can’t enforce the ones they want against whom they want. Good Job LaPuma. keep up the work of harassing those folks you don’t like…
How about making parents responsible for making sure their children are are wearing helmets!
I am tired of people abdicating parential responsiblilties to police, the schools and other governmental authorities.
If the users of the Skateboard Park don’t want to be responsible enough to obey the helmet rule, CLOSE THE PARK!
I sat at the corner of Maple and R-wood Avenue last night at the light.
Three cars in a row made a left in front of me to head towards the high school.
All three were on their cellphone….
RE: “How about making parents responsible for making sure their children are are wearing helmets!“
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
You do know what town are you talking about, don’t you?
2:09PM
My point exactly! The fact that we have to use our police for something that parents should be responsible for is nothing less than an embarrassment.
8:11–you must be a product of a Ridgewood math program. Your statistical analysis would be valid if the same number of people used skateboards as bikes and at the same frequency and duration. I’m pretty sure that’s not true. Way more kids ride bikes and use them more frequently–hence the greater number of injuries. By your statistical analysis, bike riding is more dangerous than sky-diving since it results in a greater number of ER visits.
4:36 –
Please show me your math…
What do you base your position on?
Oh, I’m sorry, you’re “pretty sure” and “Way more” kids are involved.
Well… You’ve convinced me.
I can’t argue with those numbers.
BTW, What color is your favorite number?
If they don’t follow the rules, close the park. The Village is on the hook for a serious accident.
Forget drugs in Ridgewood!!! Those kids will have their helmets on.
Unreal…all the people saying they shouldn’t be patrolling are the same ones that are gonna sue the town when their child breaks open his/her head.
Make no mistake that any kid who gets injured not wearing a helmet will result in a lawsuit.
to all the police.if you drive the cars you should be looking at the oil.dont you look at the oil in your car i do.may be you should start,and dont tell me its not my job it is.what happens when you go on a call and you are low oil .and the light comes on.do you just drive the car .bring it in and and fill it up.
YOUR DAMNED IF YA DO AND YOUR DAMNED IF YA DON’T!!!!!!!!!!!!
all I know is some of the cops are allwas on the cell phone when driving.hummm.
“Make no mistake that any kid who gets injured not wearing a helmet will result in a lawsuit.”
Perhaphs someone should have addressed this issue before the Skateboard park was built with taxpayer money.
Using police to play park attendant is a complete waste.
If a cyclist is hit by a car (or just falls off the bike) the town won’t be sued.
If a skate park teen receives an injury the town will be sued.
to the police we all love you.you men and gall,s are a bunch off great people.but and I mean but when you drive a car or a truck or bike,gess what you should be looking at all fluids inyour car that you will be in the next 12hr,swhen it snows dont you look at the wash,er de,ice,er.or what come on dont say it,s not my job or the union say,s i dont have to do it.bs.you do.take car of it and it will take car of you ,and to the one that said the workers in fleet suck.well come in and show then how its done.you have no balls if you did come in and tell them you lazzy bum.I dont know you or them but all I know is that you should be looking at your cars.dont get it this with anyone you will make your self look like a real bum.mr info boy of maple av.