My room mate (Steven) and I went out to longboard. First we went down to this construction area that said “Road closed to through traffic”, but had a very well built hill and turn well before there was any construction. We parked and went to slide on the turn. We took one run down and then went back to evaluate how to better take the turn. That’s when a “Police” car drove up.
“You aren’t allowed to be here. In a couple of weeks this road will open up and be public property but until then it’s private.”
We apologized and explained that we didn’t know and turned to leave. The cop seemed plenty friendly. We left, and won’t go back there until it’s open. No problem! If everyone was as polite as this, we’d have no problems.
Then we headed over to the Ross Complex. We parked at a C-Tran parking lot, and about a minute after parking we were approached by a security car. The driver told my room-mate that we could only stay parked there until 7:30. We agreed and went to walk up the hill. After about twenty minutes of riding a different security car stopped us and an older man said “Pick em up and head out” (talking about the longboards we were already carrying. We said, “well we can still skate in the street right? It’s public property.” He replied, “yes I suppose.”
A while later the second security car drove up to me and said “That doesn’t look very safe with the cars, you better go do that somewhere else.” I shrugged and said “It’s fine, we’re being careful.”
Then after taking just one more he stopped both my room mate and I yet again and said “You guys can’t be here, you better leave before I call the cops.”
We had been very careful not to ride only on public property after his initial warning so we asked, “Why? We have every right to be here, but we were just about to leave anyways.” I started towards the car. He assumed we were walking to go ride some more, and he repeated “you have to leave.” This is where the conversation took a turn for the worse. Here’s everything he said as best I remember it..
Me: Yeah, our car is over here.. we’re leaving.
Steven: We have every right to be here.
Security: No you don’t, if you don’t leave I’m calling the cops.
Steven: We have the same rights as bikers.
Security: No you don’t. Stick around and find out because I’m going to call the police.
Steven: Go ahead and call them, we’re on public property. We have every right to be here.
Security: Do you pay taxes?
Steven: What?? Yeah I own a business, I pay both state business and income tax.
Security: Well you’re not allowed to ride here, you’re being a nuisance.
Steven: How are we being a nuisance?
Security: What if a car hit you?
Steven: It didn’t.
Security: Well what if one did?
Steven: Then it would be our fault but we were being very careful. Besides, since when is being a nuisance against the law?
At this point I was just done. I started to walk back to the car and told Steven to do the same.
It’s the comment about the taxes that made me decide to write this. He assumed that just because we were on longboards we were of no use to society. This is so far from the truth. I own my own business, which means I have to pay small business taxes and pay for the full 15% income tax. Anyone who is employed has half of their income tax paid by their employer, so I actually pay way more than most people! What gives him the right to stereotype me based on how I spend my free time?
And this wasn’t by any means an isolated incident. This kind of thing happens all the time. We’ve gotten chased out of public parks by cops, and constantly get nasty looks by people we pass. I know I’m not by any means the stereotypical skater, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to treat me as less than any other person.
UPDATE:
I just got some information about what that security officer was and wasn’t allowed to do. Here will be my response next time this happens:
- Take the security person’s name
- If I’m able to, begin either recording or taking video of the confrontation, and let them know they are being recorded. This is 100% legal as long as you’re on public property
- Let them know that their liability insurance doesn’t cover them on public property. I know this because I did some work for an insurance broker who specifically insures security guards.
- If they continue harassment, let them know that they can be convicted of a misdemeanor because they are not within their jurisdiction and trying to act as a public officer.
- If they still don’t quit, call the cops.
Of course, all of this only applies if it’s a private security guard and he’s on public property, so it doesn’t help if it’s the actual police. It’s still useful information though.
