After more than three years of contention, the problem of dealing with noisy, troublesome crowds of young people leaving the Skateland roller rink in Towson on Saturday nights has moved to a new level -- legislation.
County Councilman Douglas B. Riley, a Towson Republican, has introduced a bill that would require all roller rinks in Baltimore County to be licensed and give the county director of permits and licenses the power to shut down a rink without notice in an "emergency."
The county has three roller rinks but has only experienced problems at the Towson rink.
The bill also seeks to limit the size of crowds after 8 p.m. to 400, and in effect makes the rink operators responsible for the behavior of "patrons and guests," as well as employees. Typical Saturday night crowds at the Towson rink exceed 500 and capacity there is 800.
However, the bill's fate is uncertain because of a legal question about whether the county can limit crowd sizes in roller rinks if the Fire Department certifies that the building can hold more people without safety problems. Mr. Riley said yesterday the measure may need some revision.
The complaints against the Towson Skateland, located on Orchard Tree Lane off the 1500 block of E. Joppa Road, are familiar and well-documented. Wayne Skinner, past president of the Towson-Loch Raven Community Council, said the trouble starts when hundreds of often rowdy young people empty out en masse from the Skateland when it closes at 10:30 on Saturday night. In past years, he said, problems also have occurred in late October and early November on Sundays, when the rink closes at 10 p.m.
Neighborhood residents have complained about fights, vandalism and loud and profane groups of teens. Owners of neighborhood convenience stores and fast food restaurants close rather than admit large groups of ill-behaved youths.
County police have been called occasionally to break up fights at closing time, meaning officers have to spend time at Skateland instead of elsewhere in the undermanned Towson Precinct, Mr. Riley said.
Lt. Kenneth Meekins of the Towson Precinct said that "traditionally we don't have problems until the weather gets colder," when there are fewer other activities open to teens. He said problems have not been severe yet this fall but cold weather is arriving.
"The volume getting out is what hurts us," said Mr. Skinner, director of the Towson Development Corp. "We asked for that bill to be introduced."
He said Skateland management has failed to solve the problem. The rink placed a limit on Saturday-night crowds several years ago, and that was successful, Mr. Riley said, but the rink later removed the limit.
Skateland manager Grant Hall said the firm, which also owns roller rinks in Perry Hall and North Point, opposes any licensing law.
"We've been in business 20 years," he said, "and we've never heard of it. We're not very supportive of that bill. I don't see any purpose for it."
But he had no specific comments on the Riley measure, saying company lawyers are studying it.
The bill is scheduled for discussion by the County Council at its next work session Dec. 13.