City Municipal Code

Cities and counties will often pass their own laws in addition to the laws passed by the state and federal governments. The sign above is located near a restaurant in Modesto that I go to an alarmingly often. Under Title 3, Chapter 2, Article 8, section 808 of the Modesto City Municipal Code, rollerskating and skateboarding and, apparently, bicycle riding are all prohibited on certain property. The full text of 3-2.808 reads as follows (links are mine):

“It shall be unlawful for any person upon roller skates or riding on or by means of a skateboard, coaster or similar device to go upon any roadway in the City or in any City-owned parking lot or City-owned parking structure or in the City of Modesto Transportation Center or in the City of Modesto Amtrak Station or upon the sidewalk in any business district as defined by Section 235 of the Vehicle Code of the State of California or any property of the Modesto City School District, Sylvan Unified School District or Empire Union School District. Provided, however, the Council may, by resolution, grant approval for the use of roadways, City-owned parking lots, City-owned parking structures, and sidewalks for organized skating events of community-wide interest and importance, and that the Public Works Director, or such persons as may be designated by the Director, may grant approval for use of City park parking lots for organized skating events of community-wide interest and importance. In granting such approval, the Council and the Director or the Director’s designee may impose such conditions, restrictions and requirements as they deem necessary or desirable in order to protect the public interest and promote the general welfare.”

Note the conspicuous lack of the word “bicycle” or “bicycling” in the 3-2.808.

In certain kinds of cases — landlord-tenant, for example — it is extremely important to know about laws passed at the city and county level because they can change the proverbial playing field dramatically.

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

Andy Chen

Attorney-at-Law at The Law Offices of Andy I. Chen

Andy I. Chen is a lawyer licensed to practice law in California and New York. Andy maintains offices in Los Altos, California and Modesto, California. Under the New York Court of Appeals' 2015 decision in Schoenefeld v. State of New York, Andy does not accept cases from those in New York state. He does, however, know many lawyers in New York state and would be happy to make a referral.

Latest posts by Andy Chen (see all)

• California and New York Civil Discovery: Response Times - April 26, 2024
• Grounds for Divorce in New York versus California - April 24, 2024
• California and New York Civil Discovery: Scope - April 22, 2024