How Ridgecrest Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide
Ridgecrest maintains 74 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with public conduct. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Ridgecrest falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Skateboarding Rules
Ridgecrest bars racing, trick riding, and figure-eight patterns on skateboards, roller skates, or bicycles in posted business parking lots and adjacent sidewalks, and requires riders to yield to pedestrians; violators face an infraction citation.
Key details: Citation: § 14-1. Penalty: Infraction. Applies to: Posted business lots/sidewalks. Sign size required: 17 by 22 inches minimum.
Violating the skateboard/bicycle restriction in a properly posted business area or parking lot is an infraction under Ridgecrest City Code § 14-1(c), enforced by the Ridgecrest Police Department.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Ridgecrest bans smoking, including e-cigarette vapor and marijuana smoke, inside all city-owned buildings and vehicles, within 20 feet of any municipal building door or window, and throughout the city's public parks, with fines up to $500 for repeat violations.
Key details: Smoking banned: city buildings, vehicles, all parks. Buffer: 20 ft from municipal buildings. First-offense fine: up to $100. Repeat-offense fine: up to $500. Citation: Ridgecrest City Code § 8-2.
Enforced by administrative citation: up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second within one year, and up to $500 for each further violation within that year (Sec. 8-2(e)).
Compared to other cities, Ridgecrest takes a harder line on outdoor smoking restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Loitering Rules
Ridgecrest makes it a misdemeanor to loiter on business or drive-in premises without lawful business, especially after being told to leave, and separately bans sleeping in public streets, parks, or buildings without permission.
Key details: Penalty: Misdemeanor. Business premises: Must leave when owner asks. Public places: No unauthorized sleeping/lodging. Includes: Vehicles used for lodging. Exempt: Military on lawful duty.
Any violation of § 10-1 is a misdemeanor, whether for loitering after being told to leave a business or for unauthorized sleeping or lodging in a public place or vehicle.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Ridgecrest actively enforces its loitering rules requirements.
Jaywalking
Ridgecrest bars pedestrians from crossing any city-designated through street outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk, and requires crossing at right angles to the curb elsewhere in the city.
Key details: Rule: Crosswalk required on through streets. Elsewhere in city: Cross at right angles to curb. Crosswalks set by: City council resolution. Enforced by: Ridgecrest Police Department.
Crossing a designated through street outside a crosswalk violates § 15-244; Ridgecrest police cite pedestrian crossing violations as traffic infractions under the city's traffic code.
The Bottom Line
Ridgecrest is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Ridgecrest, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
These rules come from Ridgecrest's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.