Police will act in board complaints

Scooters may be a school holiday favourite for kids but police will confiscate them if they are ridden in the wrong part of town.

Masterton District Council bylaws forbid the riding of a skateboard, scooter or similar device in the town centre and parts of Kuripuni.

Sergeant Rick Joblin said police don't receive many complaints about scooters and skateboards, but can seize them if necessary.

"We do, from time to time, enforce, depending on what the situation is," he said.

"It is a council bylaw but we have the ability to action it as police officers."

Mr Joblin said if children were using scooters and skateboards in the town centre they are breaking the law.

"The kids are pretty responsible - they don't want to lose their scooters."

Council has received more than 150 complaints since 2001, according to the Impounded Skateboard Register.

Twenty-five warnings have been given this year, the latest this month outside Master Fry.

Only one scooter or skateboard has been seized this year, in May, and no fines have been issued since May 2008.

That's down from a high of 36 seizures 10 years ago.

Outside of the designated no-go areas, riders are to take "due care" to ensure the safety of other footpath users.

Seized scooters and skateboards are handed over to the council.

The equipment can be impounded for seven days on the first and subsequent offence. A fine can be imposed as well for the second offence, increasing for third and subsequent offences.

These can be enforced by police or an authorised council officer.

Skateboards and scooters impounded by year

2001: 21 impounded, no warnings

2002: 36 impounded, no warnings

2003: 18 impounded, no warnings

2004: 22 impounded, no warning

2005: 5 impounded, no warnings

2006: 4 impounded, no warnings

2007: 6 impounded, no warnings

2008: 4 impounded, 1 warning

2009: None impounded, 2 warnings

2010: None impounded, 2 warnings

2011: 3 impounded, 4 warnings

2012: 1 impounded, 25 warnings