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Ohio Lawmakers Consider Outlawing 'Skitching' on a Skateboard

State Representative Thomas West
The Ohio House of Representative
State Representative Thomas West
State Representative Thomas West
Credit The Ohio House of Representative
State Representative Thomas West

A state lawmaker from Canton has introduced a bill to outlaw skateboarding while being towed by a vehicle.

The “Dallas Swogger” Act is named after a 16-year-old from Canton who died last year after he was injured skateboarding behind a moving vehicle.

State Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) says it’s already illegal to get towed if you’re on a bicycle, roller skates, a sled or a number of other items, but skateboards aren’t on that list.

“The goal of this bill is to create prevention and awareness," says West, "but also make people know that it’s not OK to allow individuals to hold on to a moving vehicle while riding a skateboard.”

Anyone violating the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.

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Brandon is a junior journalism major at Kent State University with experience in broadcast, print, visual, radio and digital journalism. During the school year, Bounds works for student media with TV2 and The Kent Stater/Kentwired. Additionally, Bounds is a rising fellow for the Carnegie-Knight national News21 program for the upcoming summer.