Well, was the skater really scrawny? - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

Youtube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch... - Thomas Hawk

Yup, the kids were in violation of at least two laws. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

Damn, can't skateboard in SF? That sucks major ass - Itachi

Yeah, that does suck. I wasn't aware of that law. Are Segways legal in SF? On a side note, it's usually not a great idea to call a police officer a fucking dick, or direct any other profanity at them. Things usually go a lot better if you are polite. - Cristo

Cristo, indeed, the kid was an idiot for calling the cop that. But being an idiot isn't against the law and as the one with the gun and badge and obligation to protect and serve, the cop acted poorly. If you are going to be given the privilege of a gun and badge in society you can't break down simply because someone is disrespectful to you. Being disrespectful is not a crime. - Thomas Hawk

No, but, Thomas, you seem to continue to skip right on by the fact that the kids were committing a crime. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

Speeding is against the law, and I've gotten off with a warning plenty of times by being polite to the officer that stopped me. The kid could have avoided going to jail and having his skateboard taken if he had kept his mouth shut. I'm not defending the cop, I'm just being practical. - Cristo

Also, I'm not sure being given a gun and a badge is a privilege. It's not a job that I would want, and I'm glad there are those who are willing to do it. Not for enforcing skateboarding laws, but for keeping the truly bad people away from me. - Cristo

Anyone have a link to what the actual law is regarding skateboards, segways, and scooters on San Francisco city streets? - Cristo

If law enforcement keeps behaving in this fashion, then it will only get worse, because people will get less and less respect for the police, be more rude, etc. It's a vicious circle which I think needs to be broken by the law enforcement agencies. - Rene Wirtz

MVB, violating the law should not result in that kind of police harassment. Skateboarding is largely a victimless crime, like jaywalking. Not allowing skateboarding in SF by the way is an idiotic law. - Thomas Hawk

"Not allowing skateboarding in SF by the way is an idiotic law." -- I certainly agree with this. - Cristo

Sorry, I'm siding with the officer on this one, unless you can explain to me when disrespect of anyone, let alone directed at an adult police officer by a child, is appropriate. Perhaps you have been in the Peoples Socialist Republic of Berkley too long, but, if that was me, my dad would have whooped my ass for saying that to anyone. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

"while also claiming that at no point did he threaten anyone." Um. - Andrew C

Yup, Andrew. That, too was wrong. Here's the deal: you can not use the behavior of one to excuse the behavior of the other. That, ultimately, is my point. The kid broke a few different laws, including resisting arrest. The officer should have been a little more polite. The result ends up the same: kid goes to jail. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

MVB, the thing is that we have laws though and disrespecting a cop isn't one of them. Even then though threatening to break a citizen's arm is uncalled for. Cops need to have level heads. This guy does not have one. - Thomas Hawk

So, you think disrespect is perfectly fine? - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

"not perfectly fine" != "deserves threats of violence from authority figures". - Andrew C

Disrespect is wrong, but the one person that should always be respectful is the police man. If he gets to be disrespectful, where does it end?! - Rene Wirtz

MVB The cop needs to be the adult here even when the other adults are acting childish. - Uncle CW™

and "valid arrest" != "comes with a side of threats". - Andrew C

Because after threats comes unnecessary tazering or shooting. - Rene Wirtz

I give up. There is no use when everyone jumps up defending a snot-nosed, belligerent twerp who clearly has an out-of-control case of "entitlementism." Like I said before, if I acted that way my dad would have doubled whatever I got and I'm better for it. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

@MVB: I am not fully disagreeing with you. It is true that kids today are a lot less respectful, but cops these days are not how they used to be either, when just raising their voice a little bit would keep people in check. The skateboarder was wrong, but the cop was also wrong and he should have behaved better. - Rene Wirtz

MVB, I think everyone here would agree the kid was disrespectful and broke the law. - Kenton

Apparently all but one, Kenton. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

MVB, I don't think disrespect is fine at all. The kid was in the wrong for calling the cop what he did. But disrespecting the police is permitted via the 1st Amendment and until that's repealed I'm not sure it will ever be considered illegal. An unlawful use of force is in fact illegal though, and although the officer did not actually follow through on his threat, threatening an unlawful use of force and a charge of resisting arrest (when the kid was definitely already under his control) undermines the credibility of the police department. This officer very publicly discredited his office and his department. I'd never talk to a cop that way myself and I'd punish my kids if I ever heard them responding that way to a police officer, but a police officer ought to be held to a higher standard than a punk kid. - Thomas Hawk

Thomas, did the kid deserve to be arrested? - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

No he did not. He deserved to be cited for the crime of skateboarding and released on site. It's a stupid victimless crime, like jaywalking. Question. Do you think this *very public* video builds cooperation, support and partnership between the SFPD and the community? - Thomas Hawk

Insulting a cop is not a crime. Yet. - Andrew C

So, what other crimes can I commit for which I should not be arrested? - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

Speeding? - Kenton

Smoking marijuana. Almost all traffic violations. Usually you are not arrested unless it's a misdemeanor or worse. - Cristo

Infractions != misdemeanors != felonies. however, committing an infraction, then acting like a moron can instantly get someone into "disturbing the peace" - a misdemeanor... and incidentally, while i think the cop stepped over the line, i have no idea what it's like to be one and i have absolutely no interest in creating some new set of rules that they all of a sudden need to be super-polite either. - Jeremy Toeman

Sorry, way, way too politically correct for me. Try talking to me the same way that little punk talks, and I'll guaranty the officer looks like Mother Teresa. - MVB (Curmudgeon of FF)

"politically correct"? Perhaps you mean _legally_ correct. - Andrew C

MVB, it's a crime to park at an expired meter. Do you want to be arrested for that? There's a big difference between crimes that actually require someone to be arrested for public safety reason (say a murder, a flight risk) and a crime that's minor (as a traffic infraction). Should he have called the officer a dick? No, even if he has a protected right to, it's not wise. It just pissed the cop off. Should the cop have enough training and experience not to let a kid piss him off to concocting a "resisting arrest" claim. Yeah, I think so. - dannysullivan

@Jeremy - my problem is people inventing "new set of rules" that ordinary civilians basically have to kowtow to police. - Andrew C

Apparently, it might not be illegal, either http://sf.metblogs.com/2009... - dannysullivan

dannysullivan++ - Andrew C

@Andrew since when does "being polite to those who risk their lives for us" (and yes, they do - not every day/all the time, but that *IS* their job) == "kowtow"? again, why is anyone defending this punk kid's actions? do you think cops should have to be treated this way while doing their jobs? - Jeremy Toeman

We're not defending his actions. We're upset that a police officer threatened to break his arm. Mouthing off does not = I'll break your arm. He's a minor, right? Give him a ticket. No ID, arrest him to issue the citation, hey, that's fine too. But no, I don't think we need police officers venting their frustration that people might assume they're assholes by acting like them. He gives policing a bad name, regardless of the kid's actions. He could have arrested him, taken him in with not a word -- and you know what? His parents can then deal the morality lessons out. - dannysullivan

I saw that memo also, and it wasn't clear to me what the law is now in 2009: http://www.sfgov.org/site... - Cristo

"2. Prohibits motorized skateboards on streets, sidewalks, "or any other part of a highway or on any bikeway, bicycle path or trail, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail." (CA Vehicle Code §21968. Interestingly, California passed SB441 in October 1999 allowing motorized scooters on public roadways under certain conditions1.)" -- This one is particularly interesting to me because I have an electric skateboard. Apparently I'm not allowed to use it anywhere though. :( - Cristo

@Jeremy - no, police shouldn't be treated that way. But, yeah, what dannysullivan said. The appropriate response to rudeness to cops is not police violence, nor a threat of it. I could turn it around on y'all - why is anyone defending this cop? - Andrew C

See, if the kid had just yelled "you lie," that would have been much better. Imagine the campaign contributions! C'mon, gotta lighten it up a bit around here :) - dannysullivan

Are all streets in San Francisco considered to be in a "business district?" - Bill Slawski

I ask because SEC. 7.2.13. NON-MOTORIZED USER-PROPELLED VEHICLES (NUV) (as amended in 2008) of the San Francisco Municipal Code would appear to allow skateboarding on city streets that aren't in a business district. Has the law changed, and the online version of the municipal code not been changed? Or did this arrest happen in a business district? - Bill Slawski