Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 10, 1986.
Cruise-control measure on agenda
by Pat Randle
Staff writer
Brain McMillan, 16, skate boards downtown Friday night
(V-M: Kathy Woodward)
Valparaiso may outlaw skateboarding in commercial areas, loitering, and standing or sitting on cars in an attempt to control teenage cruising on Lincolnway.
An ordinance designed to end problems created by the weekend cruise will be introduced to the City Council when it meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
The effect to the law probably would be to close down the cruise, Police Chief Walter Lamberson said.
On Friday and Saturday nights, teenagers and others cruise the Lincolnway strip. Some ride in cars. Others walk, skate or skateboard along sidewalks, stopping to talk with friends in cars or on foot.
The cruise is so popular that it congests traffic.
And it upsets downtown business owners and some adults who want to go downtown or just drive across Lincolnway after dusk on weekends.
Last year the city proposed an ordinance, but tabled the issue and asked cruisers to control themselves.
City officials apparently have decided that has not worked.
The proposal would make it unlawful to loiter in any public place, to stand or sit on vehicles in any public street, and to roller skate or skateboard on any roadway or sidewalk in a commercial zone, according to the agenda for Monday’s council meeting.
To enforce the new laws, city police would be paid overtime to work Friday and Saturday nights, Lamberson said.
“Once the ordinance is passed we’re going to try and get some officers to work overtime for the areas where there are problems.”
Volunteer police will be used as well, Lamberson said.
“Along with the ordinance, heavy enforcement is going to have to take place in order to control the problem or alleviate it.”
City police worked with other officials, including City Attorney Brad Koeppen and members of the city’s cruiser control committee, to gather information for the new ordinance.
Lamberson and others looked at the laws other cities use.
