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<br /> <br /> <br /> SKATEBOARDING TESTIMONY <br /> <br /> <br /> Some of you here believe that police should leave the skateboarders alone and worry about other <br /> <br /> things. The fact is that police have been called by the community and have been spending a lot of time <br /> attempting to resolve concerns about skateboarding in Downtown Hilo. Is skateboarding safe in <br /> <br /> Downtown Hilo? The facts I am about to present will show that skateboarding in Downtown Hilo is a <br /> ' RECFJV® '4 <br /> nuisance and is dangerous to pedestrians as well as the skateboarders. m„` By <br /> <br /> Count' Council <br /> <br /> It is clear that skateboarding is a nuisance and a concern in the Downtown Hilo area. So far in <br /> 1998 we have had 37 Complaints about skateboarders in various parking lots, and sidewalks in <br /> <br /> Downtown Hilo. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Skateboarding in Downtown Hilo has also proved to be dangerous to pedestrians and <br /> <br /> skateboarders. Officer Apele has already mentioned to you about the traffic accident on Waianuenue <br /> Avenue, and the skateboarder riding into a pedestrian on Kamehameha Avenue. <br /> <br /> In early September, 1 was patrolling in my car in the Downtown Hilo area. I almost ran into a <br /> <br /> skateboarder on the roadway within Furneaux Lane. He did a "launch" off of the sidewalk onto the <br /> <br /> roadway, landing a few feet from my car. Fortunately, 1 did not hit the skateboarder with my car. <br /> <br /> Although he was warned, I later saw him on Shipman Street doing the same thing. Warning skateboarders <br /> <br /> do not make a difference. Consequences are needed to ensure compliance. <br /> <br /> <br /> We have tried many different ways to prevent these incidents from occurring, we have warned <br /> <br /> skateboarders of the dangers, however, they continue to place themselves and others in harm. They refuse <br /> <br /> to accept responsibility when these incidents do occur. They do not respect the property of some <br /> <br /> businesses and continue to damage property despite the requests from the businesses and police. <br /> <br /> <br /> Despite our efforts to warn skateboarders and provide a site where they can skate, Skateboarders <br /> <br /> continue to cause disorder in Downtown Hilo. < aowZ IQ~ 68 05( <br /> <br /> FYIe No.- 14 CC <br /> Ref. 1b1Prat.p#s.r Coo"c, <br /> Ftt. Date OCT 7 1998 <br />