1.   The governing body of any municipality may, by ordinance, regulate the operation of skateboards and roller skates upon the roadways and public properties under municipal jurisdiction; provided, however, that no such ordinance shall:

   a.   absolve any person operating roller skates or a skateboard upon a permitted roadway of any of the duties applicable to the operator of a bicycle pursuant to Article 3 of chapter 4 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and all supplements thereto, except as to those provisions thereof which by their nature can have no application; or

   b.   prohibit any person from operating a skateboard upon any public roadway, except those specifically designated by ordinance .

   For the purpose of this section, "roller skates" means a pair of devices worn on the feet with a set of wheels attached, regardless of the number or placement of those wheels, and used to glide or propel the user over the ground.

   L.1998,c.36,s.1.