ATHENS, Tenn. — Tired of property damage and complaints from owners, Athens City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to ban skateboarding in a 12-square-block area downtown.

Punishment for violating the ban is a $50 fine. The ban only applies to public property. Private property owners may post signs forbidding skateboarding and police can cite violators to court.

Police Chief Chuck Ziegler said he will meet with the city attorney next week to discuss how the department will respond to the ban.

See Thursday’s Times Free Press for complete coverage.