Rollerskier in Fairbanks ticketed

In Fairbanks the state troopers have decided to pursue rollerskiers. A
little over a week ago one rollerskier was ticketed after an off duty
trooper passed him and his pole swung out to the side. There were two
of them rollerskiing and the citation was obstructing traffic.
Unfortunately the off duty trooper was the Capt. of the local
detachment. Fortunately one of the rollerskiers is a lawyer. The
following day three troopers stopped the UAF ski team during a
workout. The students were ordered to take off their rollerskis.
Apparently there is an law that states: "No person may operate a
unicycle, coaster, roller skates or a similar device on the roadway."
The troopers are interpreting rollerskis to be a "similar device". The
troopers say that the two incidents are not related. The summer before
last the coach of a summer training group was spoken to by the
troopers after a complaint and was told the rollerskiers should be
sure to ski single file, but nothing about it being illegal.

Here's a link to a newspaper article describing the incidents:

http://www.news-miner.com/Stories/0,...676677,00.html

This is a setback for the UAF ski team and other skiers such as the
high school ski team members.

Is rollerskiing illegal anywhere else and actually enforced, other
than obvious places such as freeways? Anyone else had to fight this
battle?

I was rollerskiing in a mall parking lot in San Diego near Xmas one year. A
rent-a-cop came out and told me, "You can't do that here." I said, "Do what?"
and he said, "That." He'd probably never seen snow before. Luckily, I was
leaving anyway.

I thought it was funny.

It's too bad that the cops see it that way. I used to live up there and have a
hard time believing that most people would be upset at it. I used to battle
with the Security Police at the Air Force Academy when my cycling team (road;
about 30 guys) used to ride around the base. They had it out for us and there
wasn't much you could do but do your ride and grin and bear the harassment.
Luckily we were bikes and it was harder to eliminate us from the road. Not so
easily said about rollerskiing.
Eric "Shmo" Chandler
Duluth, MN

When I was rollerskiing while in college, I had a police officer pull
his cruiser up behind me with lights going and I pulled on to the
grass. The officer stopped the cruiser and got out. He sauntered
over and said, "those got brakes?" while motioning to the roller ski.
I start going slowly toward my speed reducers and the officer says, "I
see 'em now, carry on" and then leaves. I guess I got off for my
crimes.
--Matt

pamsuks (Eric W. Chandler) wrote in message ...
I was rollerskiing in a mall parking lot in San Diego near Xmas one year. A
rent-a-cop came out and told me, "You can't do that here." I said, "Do what?"
and he said, "That." He'd probably never seen snow before. Luckily, I was
leaving anyway.

I thought it was funny.

It's too bad that the cops see it that way. I used to live up there and have a
hard time believing that most people would be upset at it. I used to battle
with the Security Police at the Air Force Academy when my cycling team (road;
about 30 guys) used to ride around the base. They had it out for us and there
wasn't much you could do but do your ride and grin and bear the harassment.
Luckily we were bikes and it was harder to eliminate us from the road. Not so
easily said about rollerskiing.
Eric "Shmo" Chandler
Duluth, MN

We used to have all kinds of trouble here in Wisconsin. Some guys used to carry
a copy of the law in their pocket in case they were pulled over. I don't think
it's been much of a problem in the last 5 years as long as you behave yourself
and ski single file, and stay out of the way.

The only time I had trouble was while almost cresting a steep climb, probably a
half dozen pushes from the top, I hear BEEP BEEP BEEP behind. I mutter a few
curse words to myself as I struggle over the top (who's going to pass on a
blind up hill anyway???) .... WHIRRRRR WHOOP WHOOOP !!!

Yup, officer friendly couldn't pass on the blind uphill and got mad. Beet red,
spittin', and a big 'ol vein popping out of the side of his neck, he gives us
the lecture "what the heck do we think we're doing out here in HIS county on
HIS roads so early on a sunday morning blocking traffic ???!!". (yeah, all
these soy farmers are having a hard time getting to their fields at 8am
sunday).

He give his lecture, we played 'yes sir' and all continued on their way. No
tickets involved.

John Wilke
Milwaukee

On 07 Oct 2003 22:18:13 GMT, (J999w) wrote:


He give his lecture, we played
'yes sir' and all continued on their way. No
tickets involved.

I really think you should argue, politely, and take the ticket if he
won't listen, then fight it. It's not right to take that treatment.

JT

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Here is the progressive and nordic ski friendly state of New York, roller
skiers are (probably) afforded all the rights enjoyed by bicycles.
The caveat is that the law discusses in line skaters as having the same
broad rights to the road as bicyclists, but roller skiing is not mentioned
as an entity. I think that an arguement that roller skis are in line skates
probably would hold up in court.

In New York State motor vehicles have no greater legal rights to the road
than human powered wheeled travelers. In fact motor vehicle users are
specifically warned to pass non motorized wheeled users safely.

The courtesy I am given by drivers while I roller ski and bicycle has been
remarkable of late. Seems that if there is any choice anMV user could make
about a situation involving me on roller skis or cycling, the drivers have
yielded or given my a wide berth with courtesy. Can't figure it out, and I'm
not complaining.

Regarding the police: Rosendale used to be a major biathlon center. As
biathlon involves fire arms, and it just so happens that a guy who is now a
local law officer was on the brink of making the National Biathlon team many
years back, it seems that the police have a keen interest in not harassing
us. I get nods and supportive comments every once in a while by the guys in
blue.

Gary Jacobson
Rosendale, NY

the concept of "rollerskates and similar devices" is widely used in
state parks here in NJ and Long Island, NY. So before I rollerski in a
state park I go to the headqauters and check with their policies. I
usually take "the similar device" with me, and I load them with b.s.
about me being the only XCskier around (Pete Minde and John Hart would
kick my butt for that) and remember to smile - and in 50% of cases
that say OK.

As for the roads, I usually ski in residential areas (like Oyster Bay,
LI) and remember to smile at every cop driving by, and at very
resident walking his/her dog (Ken Robert's advice), and to switch to
double poling every time I pass somebody or get passed by a car - and
so far everything was fine. Apparently, locals by now think of me as a
unique intersting feature of their neirborhood.