June 6, 2007

Nassau County Legislators Ban Skateboarding and Rollerblading on Nassau Community College Campus

At this week’s Legislative Meeting, Legislator John J. Ciotti joined in a unanimous vote to approve a new ordinance to prohibit skateboarding and rollerblading at the Nassau Community College campus.  According to the Nassau County Police Department’s Public Safety Office, the campus attracts riders from all over the region and is listed on the internet as a hot spot for skateboarders.  Most of the people who skateboard or rollerblade at Nassau Community College are not students at the College. 

This usage of the campus as a skate-park has caused costly damage to campus structures, including benches, stairs and railings.  The skating has also resulted in many injuries to riders, is hazardous to innocent bystanders, and has resulted in at least one lawsuit.   

This ban will protect the health and safety of the students and faculty, and reduce the burden on the taxpayers who support the college.  The legislation provides that no one may operate a skateboard or rollerblades within campus buildings, on campus stairs or benches, on campus railings or banisters, or on campus sidewalks, walls or ramps.  Fines for noncompliance start at $350.   

“We need to make sure that the College campus remains focused as an institution of higher learning – not a skate-park.  The risk of injury to the riders and to innocent bystanders is too great to ignore.  I support this legislation and believe that it will deter people, especially non-students, from skating or blading on the College premises,” said Legislator Ciotti.