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Home · Articles · News · Rogue of the Week · City of Tigard
October 31st, 2007 WW Editorial Staff | Rogue of the Week
 

City of Tigard

A random act of stupidity.

18 Comments
     
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The new police state has extended far enough up America’s collective rectum. So we’re drawing the line and roguing the City of Tigard for its policy of singling out skateboarders for random searches.

When the Jim Griffith Memorial Skate Park opened Oct. 16 next to Tigard City Hall, the 15,000-square-foot park became the newest area venue designed specifically for skateboarders, BMX bikers and in-line skaters to gather and pull tricks.

The city posted 16 rules at the entrance. It’s rule No. 3 that’s riled the park’s mostly underage patrons: “By entering and remaining in the Skate Park, you voluntarily give consent to have any backpack, bag or other container searched by Tigard Police.”

This isn’t the airport, where you might make a case for a surrender of rights when you decide to board a plane. Imagine the uproar if that rule were posted at every public park and pool in Tigard. But it’s not. Only at the skate park. In Portland, skate parks don’t have any such automatic search rule.

“That’s violating the Constitution’s Fourth Amendment,” says Erik Nelson, 17, a Tigard High School senior hanging out at Griffith Park last week. “It’s a stereotype of skaters if they think they’re gonna have to check bags.”

And the rule isn’t just for show either. Sterling Robbins, 15, a sophomore at Catlin Gabel School, says his bag was searched for no apparent reason a few days after the park opened. He says police found nothing.

Tigard Parks Director Dan Plaza says police requested the rule to keep out weapons, drugs and alcohol. It’s not keeping skaters away, Plaza says.

At skateandannoy.com, bloggers have posted rants and cartoons mocking the rule, and a plea for $5 donations to make stickers opposing it. Our check’s in the mail.

 
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10.31.2007 at 08:42 Reply
It certainly isn't keeping the kids from using the place. I drive there pretty much every weeknight at about five o'clock and that skate park is packed.

 

10.31.2007 at 09:07 Reply
It's very encouraging that a 17-year-old knows anything about the Fourth Amendment, or any other Amendment for that matter. Let's hope there are more like him.

 

10.31.2007 at 10:28 Reply
You got to be kidding. Another example of the cops pulling a fast one on the youth of today. Don't consent!

 

11.01.2007 at 06:48 Reply
Another overreaction to a rule that is protecting the good kids. Would you rather have your child's backpack searched by the police or have to worry about the presence of drugs or weapons at a place where your child likes to hang out after school? I think it is refreshing that there is a place that kids can go to, and not have to worry about getting shot, stabbed, or have drugs peddled to them.

 

11.01.2007 at 10:52 Reply
Our sticker campaign is more than just a simple protest. It is being designed to educate the riders of the Tigard skate park and let them know that their civil rights may be violated and how to respond in case the issue of a search comes up. We are clarifying our language because we want to make sure we don't give anyone bad advice. The stickers will be handed out to people using the skatepark, with the idea that they keep them on their board or bike and use them for reference. You can donate to the project at http://skateandannoy.com/?p=4237 Hopefully the city of Tigard will remove the rule in question before we go to print withthe stickers, in which case we will refund any money collected.

 

 
 

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