Missing Elbow Pad $245 fine

Courtesy Newport Mesa Daily Voice: (Please support AB874!)
Jeff Westermann, 34, who builds skate ramps for Pro SK8 Ramps, frequents Volcom Skate Park in Costa Mesa regularly. He received his "courtesy notice" on Sat., Aug. 8 from Harbor Court in Costa Mesa regarding a ticket he received for not wearing one elbow pad while skating the park on Friday, July 17 at 2 p.m. A ticket for skateboarding without kneepads or elbow pads in Costa Mesa incurs a $245 fine!

Here's Jeff's account of the day ....

I was wearing my helmet, knee pads and 1 elbow pad. I wasn't skating when the cops showed up. One of the officers kept egging me on to get in there and skate while the park was empty, due to the fact the entire park was getting tickets for no pads. I finally put on all my pads (except the missing elbow pad that I left there weeks prior) and took 1/2 lap through the street course when this "Napoleon syndrome cop" came running over yelling for me to exit the park immediately. it looked like a SWAT or Narcotics Raid on the Volcom skatepark. They circled the place from every angle with six cop cars and two police SUV's to block off all escape attempts.

He was writing the ticket before he reached my location outside the gate! This guy wanted to establish his authority right away by asking me my age and escorting me directly in front of the signage outside the park and asked me if I could read [the rules and regulations]. After that, he told me I was a "bad influence" and what a "bad example" I was showing the young skaters (after I handed my old helmet to a local kid minutes before!) Let's just say that I had a few choice words for him after that but held my cool.... sort of... My infraction is a violation of CMMC - 12 - 57 (b) - skating without elbow pads/knee pads. About 10 or 12 kids received citations that day.

The very next morning I went to the tennis pro shop located next to the skatepark for a Gatorade and the guy working behind the counter told me he was watching the entire thing and could't believe what a raw deal I got. He also mentioned they pulled three of those raids that day!

Editor's Note:
This kind of fine could make a skateboarder go somewhere else and possibly damage private property. Jeff is to appear at Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach on or before August 28 at 8:15 a.m. He plans on pleading not guilty. If he requests a court trial be set regarding the citation, he has to pay the bail amount at the time he requests a trial. We'll keep you updated on what occurs.