I don't have an article to back it up.. because I'm having trouble finding it.
But I have just heard that if the police catch kids playing sports in the street {basketball, street hockey,} whatever... the parents could be fined 100 bucks.
Excuse me.. But I consider this frivolous..
It's basically telling the parents that they can't play outside. The news report says that the city of Kissimmee is too afraid of someone filing a lawsuit over damage occuring to a car or a person being hurt because of playing sports in the street.
I feel like calling Kissimmee City Hall tomorrow and asking them if they have something better to do than pass a wierd referendum such as this..
If I can find a story regarding this.. I'll pass it along..
I think my city has completely lost it
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Josephine96
Just like that.. found it..
Proposed law would slap $100 fine on kids playing in Kissimmee streets
04 Nov 2005
By Brian McBride News-Gazette Staff Writer
Kissimmee youngsters would be prohibited from using portable recreational equipment including basketball hoops and hockey nets on local streets and sidewalks under a proposed ordinance because of a liability it posed to the city.
The City Commission approved the first reading of a law Tuesday that would slap violators with up to $100 in code enforcement fines.
If approved at the second and final public hearing on Nov. 8, the ordinance would ban all portable play equipment including basketball goals, hockey nets and baseball gear from city rights of way, including sidewalks and streets.
“This is a safety issue in my mind,” said City Commissioner Jerry Gemskie. “When you have kids out in the street, they are playing and they are not looking for cars. I think we are being proactive on this.”
It all began with a complaint from a resident about a neighbor’s basketball hoop in a city street, city officials said. Because there were no set laws to address play equipment in the right of way, the city was placed on notice that it could be held liable if a child were injured when the city received that complaint, said City Attorney Don Smallwood.
The conditions fell under the attractive nuisance doctrine, Smallwood said, which states that a landowner may be held liable for injuries to children if an object on the property causes an injury. Children are unable to determine the risk posed by that object, according to the doctrine.
“Once we are put on notice, I think at that point it’s prudent for us to see how we can limit that liability,” Smallwood said.
The law would also help sanitation workers and public safety officials avoid the obstacles in the streets, city officials said.
Code enforcement officers would most likely respond to violations, said City Manager Mark Durbin. But if no enforcement officers were available, police could be used.
Appalled that the city was proposing such an ordinance, Commissioner Scott Brooks lashed out against it.
“It’s downright vicious,” said Brooks. “We’re basically telling kids you can’t be kids.”
The city would not go to extremes, Durbin said.
“If a kid pulls a basketball goal to the side of the road, shoots some baskets and pulls it back into his driveway, it’s not going to be an issue,” he said.
The city could offer a set time when the equipment could be used, but not prohibit total play, Brooks said.
Some neighborhood basketball hoops have been left in city right of way for days, said Mayor Linda Godwin-Nichols, who claimed to observe the problem firsthand.
“I personally don’t think that passing this ordinance is preventing kids from outdoor recreation,” she said. “I think that bottom line, it’s protecting the city.”
The commission voted 3-1 on first reading, with Brooks opposing. Commissioner Jeanne Van Meter did not attend the meeting.
Commissioner Wendell McKinnon voted with the majority, but said Brooks made some good arguments.
“If we start getting some complaints on this, I’ll be the first one to help repeal the ordinance,” he said.
ell:
Proposed law would slap $100 fine on kids playing in Kissimmee streets
04 Nov 2005
By Brian McBride News-Gazette Staff Writer
Kissimmee youngsters would be prohibited from using portable recreational equipment including basketball hoops and hockey nets on local streets and sidewalks under a proposed ordinance because of a liability it posed to the city.
The City Commission approved the first reading of a law Tuesday that would slap violators with up to $100 in code enforcement fines.
If approved at the second and final public hearing on Nov. 8, the ordinance would ban all portable play equipment including basketball goals, hockey nets and baseball gear from city rights of way, including sidewalks and streets.
“This is a safety issue in my mind,” said City Commissioner Jerry Gemskie. “When you have kids out in the street, they are playing and they are not looking for cars. I think we are being proactive on this.”
It all began with a complaint from a resident about a neighbor’s basketball hoop in a city street, city officials said. Because there were no set laws to address play equipment in the right of way, the city was placed on notice that it could be held liable if a child were injured when the city received that complaint, said City Attorney Don Smallwood.
The conditions fell under the attractive nuisance doctrine, Smallwood said, which states that a landowner may be held liable for injuries to children if an object on the property causes an injury. Children are unable to determine the risk posed by that object, according to the doctrine.
“Once we are put on notice, I think at that point it’s prudent for us to see how we can limit that liability,” Smallwood said.
The law would also help sanitation workers and public safety officials avoid the obstacles in the streets, city officials said.
Code enforcement officers would most likely respond to violations, said City Manager Mark Durbin. But if no enforcement officers were available, police could be used.
Appalled that the city was proposing such an ordinance, Commissioner Scott Brooks lashed out against it.
“It’s downright vicious,” said Brooks. “We’re basically telling kids you can’t be kids.”
The city would not go to extremes, Durbin said.
“If a kid pulls a basketball goal to the side of the road, shoots some baskets and pulls it back into his driveway, it’s not going to be an issue,” he said.
The city could offer a set time when the equipment could be used, but not prohibit total play, Brooks said.
Some neighborhood basketball hoops have been left in city right of way for days, said Mayor Linda Godwin-Nichols, who claimed to observe the problem firsthand.
“I personally don’t think that passing this ordinance is preventing kids from outdoor recreation,” she said. “I think that bottom line, it’s protecting the city.”
The commission voted 3-1 on first reading, with Brooks opposing. Commissioner Jeanne Van Meter did not attend the meeting.
Commissioner Wendell McKinnon voted with the majority, but said Brooks made some good arguments.
“If we start getting some complaints on this, I’ll be the first one to help repeal the ordinance,” he said.
ell:
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NEWeatherguy
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O Town
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I heard it on the news last night as well. They are trying to protect our children, and their butts for liability, is what my news said. Whatever 
The laws are getting more ridiculous all the time. I doubt it will stick. They may inforce it while it is new, but highly doubt it after that. Only if issues arise then the law will come into effect. Like the neighbor who likes to complain all the time will make sure that the law gets used.
The laws are getting more ridiculous all the time. I doubt it will stick. They may inforce it while it is new, but highly doubt it after that. Only if issues arise then the law will come into effect. Like the neighbor who likes to complain all the time will make sure that the law gets used.
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I hate to say it, but I wish we had a law similar to that where I live. We are in an area where eveyone has large yards, but we have no sidewalk so kids are always in the street. Most of the time it is no problem, but there are a few I would like to see put on notice. There is one large groups of kids who take both narrow lanes in the street (only way to get to my house) there is no way to go around them and they all just stand there and look at you like your crazy for trying to drive home. Parents are out and don't tell them anything. Also there are kids in diapers in the street playing and no adults to be seen.
Anyway supervised children playing carefully and not obstructing the flow of traffic is fine, but I think it is the other ones that imede traffic and cause saftey issues the law is targeted at.
Anyway supervised children playing carefully and not obstructing the flow of traffic is fine, but I think it is the other ones that imede traffic and cause saftey issues the law is targeted at.
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O Town
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Yes, I agree with some of that. 
When my 7 year old twins are out in the road riding bikes, we are always there to watch. And we live on a dead end. I can not believe some parents would allow a child in diapers to roam outside with the older ones, it is ashame. That is the problem, irresponsible parents, and arrogant kids. If everyone played fair and with common sense these kind of laws wouldn't need to be passed. As always there are a few who always spoil it for the rest of us. Sad but true.
When my 7 year old twins are out in the road riding bikes, we are always there to watch. And we live on a dead end. I can not believe some parents would allow a child in diapers to roam outside with the older ones, it is ashame. That is the problem, irresponsible parents, and arrogant kids. If everyone played fair and with common sense these kind of laws wouldn't need to be passed. As always there are a few who always spoil it for the rest of us. Sad but true.
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brunota2003
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TexasStooge
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Skywatch_NC
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Speaking of kid safety while playing...not sure about other states but there's been quite a few child deaths from ATV accidents for ie. Not too long ago in some NC town a kid hosted a birthday party and an ATV flipped over with the birthday boy driving it and his friend riding with him. B-day boy died and his friend was injured. 
Eric
Eric
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O Town
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Skywatch_NC wrote:Speaking of kid safety while playing...not sure about other states but there's been quite a few child deaths from ATV accidents for ie. Not too long ago in some NC town a kid hosted a birthday party and an ATV flipped over with the birthday boy driving it and his friend riding with him. B-day boy died and his friend was injured.
Eric
What a sad story.
I hate those things they are so dangerous. Don't know if I would let mine on one. But you hate to be the bad guy and not let your kids have any fun, better be the bad guy than have an accident like that though. It could happen in a car as well too, you just can't protect them from everything as much as we would like to. Just have to try and trust them sometimes. Very nerving. Being a parent is the hardest job in the world!!!!!
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HurriCat
NEWeatherguy wrote:It's just a GREAT SNEAKY way of getting more revenue.
Yesss.
Rev-en-ue! Here in O-Town, there are several places where you only see police right at the end of the month, filling those QUOTAS. Otherwise, just about every light has 'runners with each red that lights up - no police. Additionally, there are a few long, wide-open, arrow-straight roads with a THIRTY mph limit. Talk about speed-traps.
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CajunMama
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brunota2003 wrote:That means if kids are riding their bikes down the road, or just by their house, their parents could be fined, boy they would make about $1000 off of me in one day... how stupid r they???
No, it was organized sports that you can move the goals like basketball, street hockey. Don't know if it applies in your area but riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is illegal. The sidewalk is for pedestrians and a bike is considered a moving vehicle. You must follow all rules that automobiles use such as lane usage, turn signals (by hand of course!), obeying stopsigns and redlights.
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brunota2003
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I can ride my bike on a sidewalk...do it all the time...CajunMama wrote:brunota2003 wrote:That means if kids are riding their bikes down the road, or just by their house, their parents could be fined, boy they would make about $1000 off of me in one day... how stupid r they???
No, it was organized sports that you can move the goals like basketball, street hockey. Don't know if it applies in your area but riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is illegal. The sidewalk is for pedestrians and a bike is considered a moving vehicle. You must follow all rules that automobiles use such as lane usage, turn signals (by hand of course!), obeying stopsigns and redlights.
I play on my bike, so wouldnt that make it "portable" play equipment??? The definition is WAY to vague...I could get in trouble for playing on a scooter, skateboard, rollerblades, basically anything that moves according to the article...the ordinance would ban all portable play equipment
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Gorky
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This seems like a sensible law to me - for the wrong reasons mind you... Don't you have parks or anything in America for kids to play... When I visit a friend of mine in York who lives in one of the poorer areas (the kids generally don't have computers or anything to play with indoors), I constantly have to dodge the kids playing in the street as they run out in front of my car. This is despite the fact that there is a large park the next road down. I've had my car hit by footballs and one day it's going to dent it, or even worse, I'm going to hit one of the children. Parents should keep there kids under control and there is no excuse for playing on a public road in my opinion. It's downright dangerous. It doesn't help that ost of these kids seem to think they own the road and won't get out of the way for you...
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