Yesterday there was a small child - maybe 6-7 riding his motor bike at Kingwood Middle School on the area where leagues play baseball. When I stopped by, his father was there so I told him what his son was doing was against the law, and that he was tearing up the field. Can't repeat all that he said but thinks just because he pays his taxes, he has the right to be on the field. Oh, also his dog was running loose and his SUV was pulled onto the grass. Who should I call? 

They probably let him ride bikes and play basketball on tennis courts, too. Sports surfaces are for specific for that sport. Riding roller blades, dirt bikes, trikes, basket balls, the wrong shoes, etc can be fun to ride and play on these wide open surfaces but it can ruin the surface very quickly. 

Next time call the police... 

So which law was he specifically violating? 

I don't understand. Why do you have to call anyone? To tattle? 

If damage is done it is vandalism,
Did u happen to get a license plate number? The Chief of Police for Humble ISD is a friend of mine, I will be more than happy to let him know. 

Wow.

Get a life! 

I don't understand. Why do you have to call anyone? To tattle?

Wow.
Get a life! Judy.
 

he has the right to be on the field

He does. 

Motorized vehicles are prohibited in parks in the city of Houston period. 

I'm sorry but I have a problem with the MOTOR bike, the unleashed dog AND parking the SUV on the grass. Does he have a right to be there- sure but he doesn't have the right to do those 3 things. I pay taxes too AND I've seen first hand the damage that MOTOR bikes do to baseball/football/golf courses. In Ohio the Little League had to come up with thousands of dollars to resod their baseball fields because someone had decided to have fun with his/her motor bike. Yeah I would've called the police AND animal control. I'm especially sick of the unleashed dogs- happens at least once a day on my walks.
Rant over 

It's not just tearing up the fields, although that is a very costly form of vandalism...it's a SAFETY issue for other kids at the park.

He does NOT have the right to use a motorized vehicle in the park. 

It is at the school, a public place. It was not in a park. It's a 5 or 6 year old on a motorized conveyance, not a full blown motorcycle. The bike couldn't have enough power to tear the field up or the bike would be too heavy for the kid. Use some logic people 

The guy needs to use some logic. If it's not harming anything then he can do it on his own property.
OP- call the school I'm sure they'll be interested- 

The grassy area is a good area to practice. It doesn't hurt as bad when you fall. I taught my daughter to rider her bicycle in the grassy area at Creekwood. Granted, I didn't park in the grass, but there is no harm done to the field. 

It is at the school, a public place.

You know better than this. You cannot do whatever you want just because it is a public place, especially a school.

It's a 5 or 6 year old on a motorized conveyance, not a full blown motorcycle.

she said 6 or 7 year old on a "motor bike". regardless, a motorized vehicle does not specifically mean a full blown motorcycle.

The bike couldn't have enough power to tear the field up or the bike would be too heavy for the kid.

please.

Use some logic people

I agree. Do you think it logical for people to ride motorized vehicles in the grass at the schools where kids play, practice...etc? I don't.

I taught my daughter to rider her bicycle

A bicycle is not motorized. BIG difference. 

I agree that it should be prohibited for the reasons most others have already stated. I have seen signs at some schools (not sure if it was another district) that said skateboards and unauthorized motorized vehicles not allowed on grounds after hours.

I saw a sign at a local elementary school saying that dogs were not allowed on the grounds.

I asked a school employee about if it even meant those on leash and she said it did because so much dog waste was left that custodians were having to go out and clean in the mornings so the children did not step in it at recess and PE!

It is just a shame that people are so irresponsible and common courtesy would not make it obvious that dog poop should be bagged, especially on a playground, but it doesn't surprise me. 

"It is at the school, a public place.

You know better than this. You cannot do whatever you want just because it is a public place, especially a school. "

That is correct, I do know better. I know that since it is a public place, unless a real crime is being committed, the police cannot order them to leave.


"Use some logic people

I agree. Do you think it logical for people to ride motorized vehicles in the grass at the schools where kids play, practice...etc? I don't."

Logic, not opinion. If there is no children around, or close by, what does it matter? If they aren't tearing up the landscaping, again what does it matter. Your opinions shouldn't dictate what other people do. 

That is correct, I do know better. I know that since it is a public place, unless a real crime is being committed, the police cannot order them to leave.

Yea but they sure could go up to them and ask them politely to stop digging up the playing field with the motor bike. They could remind them that lot of kids use this field for sports and the ruts they are making could hurt someone. 

"Yea but they sure could go up to them and ask them politely to stop digging up the playing field with the motor bike. They could remind them that lot of kids use this field for sports and the ruts they are making could hurt someone. "

Technically no they cannot, unless they are actually doing damage to the field. By their presence they are exercising their authority as a police officer over them. Unless the school district specifically tells the people to stop or posts signs, law enforcement has no ability to stop them from being there. Again, as long as they are not damaging the field. Could they get away by politely asking, most likely, but if the guy lodges a complaint, he could have a valid case. 

Honestly, why would you even care so much. That field is completely torn up anyways. If you think the community would spend the money to fix it (even if nobody rode motor bikes on it) you're delusional. If it wasn't harming you why would you take time to try and reprimand him? 

It is confusing me why so many are of the "who cares" mindset.

I pay a lot of taxes to Humble ISD and I would prefer those taxes be spent towards children's education and not towards expensive repairs due to destruction of property.

Yes, a motor bike on the fields after the rains we've had is surely to tear up that field.

The field will need to be repaired. Who is going to pay for it? ALL OF US!

That's why I don't understand the "who cares" mindset. I am not keen on subsidizing this guy parking on the grass and his kid tearing up the field. 

Agree a5 -

Sleight, it is a shame that it seems police these days are given or are finding more and more reasons not to get involved.

We could use more community centered policing in Kingwood with an emphasis on quality of life type issues. 

I took a video of the "incident". No one was injured.

Get your own valid XHTML YouTube embed code 

"Sleight, it is a shame that it seems police these days are given or are finding more and more reasons not to get involved. "

How? We get complained on when we try to enforce the law. Now you are complaining when we don't enforce things that aren't against the law. 

You sound like Judge Judy... 

Sleight - it was more lament than complaint. Not sure it is even fixable. But I grew up in a town about half the size of Kingwood. We knew most of the police. They knew us. They mostly lived in the community.

They were called and got involved in all kids of stuff, lots of it not illegal. Or at least they were there to make sure it never crossed the line to illegal.

They were neighbors, and problem solvers. Granted it was a different time in a different place. And this hind sight might be a touch rose colored. But is was different.