Orion Township will not have a skateboard ordinance, at least for now.
The township board of trustees voted Dec. 5 to receive and file a first reading on a proposed ordinance regarding skateboarding and rollerblading on public property.
The ordinance was first proposed last month by clerk Jill Bastian. She said the township had been contacted by shopping centers in the area who were having problems with skateboarders.
At the Nov. 21 meeting, Bastian told the board she was informed by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department that because the township has no ordinance regarding skateboarding, it couldn’t enforce anything for the shopping center owners.
However, Lieutenant Bruce Naile, commander of the OCSD Orion Township Substation, said that’s not quite true.
‘I think this may be another ordinance that’s just redundant,? he said. ‘Shopping center owners can use the ordinance already in place for trespassing or disorderly persons.?
Naile mentioned that in 2001 the board spent a lot of time crafting a bow and arrow ordinance.
‘I don’t think it’s been used since,? he said.
Carol Binggeser of the township skate park committee was concerned fines established in the ordinance were too excessive.
‘The first offense (fine) of $150 is obsessive,? she said. ‘It’s more than a speeding ticket.?
Naile said once a shopping center owner has posted no skateboarding on his property, the OCSD can enforce that using other ordinances already established regarding private property.
Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said the school district was also having a problem with skateboarding at their facilities, as well as other places in the township like churches.
‘But this may be a little bit of overkill,? he said of the proposed ordinance.
Although Bastian said she spoke with someone from the OCSD, Naile said it wasn’t him.
‘I never saw this ordinance after it was created,? he added. ‘If (skateboarders) are being disorderly or trespassing, they can be cited.?