Public hearings will be held at the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11 Oxford Village Council meeting regarding proposed ordinance amendments prohibiting loitering and improper use of skateboards, scooters, mopeds, rollerblades and bikes.
First readings for each of these proposed ordinances were mistakenly held Dec. 14 without public hearings preceding them, according to village Manager Joe Young.
Second readings and possible adoption by council will take place Jan. 11 following the public hearings.
Both proposed ordinances grew out of growing complaints and concerns over youth-related crime and problems in downtown Oxford.
The proposals were sparked by a proposed curfew ordinance in the village, which also faces its second reading and possible adoption Jan. 11.
Loitering
The proposed text defines loitering as ‘remaining idle in essentially one location and shall include the concept of spending time idly; to linger, to stay; to saunter; to delay; to stand around and also includes the colloquial expressions ‘hanging around? or ‘hanging out.??
Public places are defined as ‘any place to which the general public has access and a right of resort for business, entertainment, or for lawful purpose, but does not necessarily mean a place devoted solely to uses of the public.?
Included in the definition of public places are the ‘fronts, rears and immediate areas including pedestrian and parking areas of any store, shop, restaurant, tavern, or any other place of business and also public grounds, areas or parks.?
In order to be considered loitering and in violation of the proposed ordinance, the offender must be obstructing, hindering, impeding or interfering with the ‘free and uninterrupted? passage of vehicles, traffic and pedestrians, or the use of private or public property.
Those guilty of violating the proposed loitering ordinance would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and up to 200 hours of community service.
If a minor under 18 violates the proposed ordinance, the parent, guardian or person legally responsible for him or her would be guilty of a misdemeanor and receive a $500 fine. The minor would be punished by up to 200 hours of community service.

Skateboards, scooters, mopeds, extreme rollerblading, and
extreme biking
The proposed text states, ‘It shall be unlawful for any person with the limits of the Village of Oxford to skateboard, operate a scooter or moped (in accordance with Michigan traffic laws), or engage in extreme rollerblading or extreme biking in any public place unless specifically designated by village council actions (i.e ramp park, etc.)
A ‘public place? is defined with the same language used in the above proposed loitering ordinance, but with the inclusion of ‘any private properties without the expressed permission of the owner.?
For the purposes of the proposed ordinance, ‘extreme rollerblading? and ‘extreme biking? are both defined as ‘the act of (rollerblading or biking) in which the specific actions are including, but not limited to jumping, grinding, tricks and any other actions with the device other than being used solely for transport purposes.?
The proposed ordinance also makes it illegal to use any of these devices in such a manner as to obstruct, hinder, impede or interfere with the ‘free and uninterrupted? passage of vehicles, traffic and pedestrians, or the use of private or public property.
Those over the age of 17 and guilty of violating this proposed ordinance would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishbable by ‘confiscation and possible non-return of their device(s),? a $500 fine and up to 200 hours of community service.
Parents, guardians or other person over age 18 who ‘permits, suffers, allows or encourages? a minor under age 17 to violate this ordinance would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishbable by ‘confiscation and possible non-return of their device(s),? progressive fines ranging from $125 to $500 and up to between 100 and 400 hours of community service for the minor.
Councilman Steve Allen said the proposed ordinance is not meant to prohibit the ‘casual? use of these devices as a ‘means of transportation.?
‘We are just trying the elimate the improper use of those type of devices from downtown Oxford,? Allen said. ‘Oxford should be an environment that’s free for people to ride their bicycle downtown or rollerblade downtown, providing they don’t grind on park benches, destroy public property and block private property.?
Minor Curfews
Under the proposed curfew ordinance, minors under the age 12 cannot be ‘in or on any public place, public street, highway, alley or park, or on private property without the owner’s written permission? between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian, or some other designated adult with written permission from a parent or legal guardian.
Minors under the age 16 cannot be in or on the above places between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. without parent, legal guardian or designated adult.
Punishment for violating the proposed curfews includes a $500 fine for the parent, guardian or other person legally responsible for the offending minor and up to 200 hours of community service for the minor.
Councilman Allen said the only change made to this proposed ordinance following the Nov. 23 public hearing was the inclusion of ‘private property without the owner’s written permission,? which was suggested by local property owner Charles Schneider.