sbp
08-16-2003, 10:33 PM
Parents cry foul over bans on portable hoops on streets (http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20030815-101308-6202r.htm)
Local governments are banning portable basketball hoops from street curbs and cul-de-sacs, a move that angers many parents who say the bans make it more difficult to get their children to play outside.
The hoops measure has ignited a debate between many parents, who view street ball as harmless fun that gets their children off the couch, and town officials, who say they need the law to unclog streets and reduce the chances of serious traffic accidents.
"The police are against fun," said Barbara Shifflett at her home on a cul-de-sac in Sykesville, Md. "They might as well just go ahead and pass a law banning fun in this town."
The same disagreement is surfacing in communities nationwide as sprawl gobbles away open space once used for ball fields and strained budgets cut funds for recreation.
This week officials in Taneytown, Md., banned portable hoops and sports equipment from streets and sidewalks in their Carroll County community. Town council members in Smithsburg, Md., are considering similar legislation if existing laws don't prohibit portable hoops on their Washington County neighborhood streets.
"It's a growing epidemic," Smithsburg Mayor Mildred Myers said. "When you drive down some streets, it's like you're driving down a basketball court."
Laws banning portable hoops also have passed in towns in New Jersey, Kentucky, New York, California and Pennsylvania.
But not all jurisdictions agree. Officials in Fairfax and Arlington counties, Alexandria and Falls Church say they don't have plans to ban portable hoops in their communities.
"We don't have any rules on the books, and we're not planning on any," said Peter Leiberg, zoning manager for Alexandria. "We just haven't had any complaints."
Most Maryland localities don't plan a ban either. "It's a growing concern, but I don't think it's a big issue statewide," said Kevin Best, research manager for the Maryland Municipal League, which represents the state's 157 municipalities. "Most towns still don't have overt anti-basketball-hoop ordinances."
Meanwhile, the Sykesville Town Council will review its measure against street ball before voting on it next month. Many upset parents say they plan to cry foul.
"It's just plain silly," said Wendy Rathell, whose two teenage boys, Tim and David, play ball daily at the hoop she bought for $85 earlier this year.
"I'd rather have them playing basketball than getting in trouble."
The hoop stands a few feet back from the Rathells' curb, but the net hangs over the street, making the stand illegal under the bill. Town officials say so many hoops line developments in their 1.5-square-mile Carroll County town — more than 100 at last count — that streets are no longer safe.
"People who say we're trying to ban fun are missing the point," said Sykesville Police Chief John R. Williams. "We're trying to protect children. We have an obligation to keep them safe. It's a civic liability issue. Luckily, we haven't had a child struck or seriously injured by a car. But we shouldn't wait for that to happen before we do something."
Under the law, owners of the portable hoops would receive a warning for the first violation, and a $50 fine and potential impoundment of the equipment on subsequent violations, Chief Williams said. The law was modeled after legislation passed last year in Paulsboro, N.J., a suburb of Philadelphia, he said.
In the meantime, portable-hoop manufacturers are paying close attention to the regulations that are springing up nationwide.
"It's certainly on our radar screen as an industrywide issue," said Mike Kermendy, director of product development for the Wisconsin-based Huffy Sport Co. "But we understand why this is happening. We do not advocate the use of our products in an area where people are driving."
This week, Taneytown officials sent letters advising residents to take down the hoops from streets and curbs. "We had to do something," said Gary Hardman, city manager for Taneytown. "We had people playing full-court games who were running from one sidewalk to another."
Officials in Paulsboro haven't issued any fines after passing their ban last year. "It's been a good tool to get the kids off the street," said Lt. Frank Grogan, of the Paulsboro Police Department. "It's worked. People have accepted it and gotten their equipment out of the streets."
Still, some officials are reluctant to enact legislation to regulate sports equipment and would rather enforce existing laws that govern traffic and public safety issues.
"After a while, you can pass so many laws that everybody is going to be fined for something or another," Mrs. Myers said. "At some point, though, we're going to have to do something."
Local governments are banning portable basketball hoops from street curbs and cul-de-sacs, a move that angers many parents who say the bans make it more difficult to get their children to play outside.
The hoops measure has ignited a debate between many parents, who view street ball as harmless fun that gets their children off the couch, and town officials, who say they need the law to unclog streets and reduce the chances of serious traffic accidents.
"The police are against fun," said Barbara Shifflett at her home on a cul-de-sac in Sykesville, Md. "They might as well just go ahead and pass a law banning fun in this town."
The same disagreement is surfacing in communities nationwide as sprawl gobbles away open space once used for ball fields and strained budgets cut funds for recreation.
This week officials in Taneytown, Md., banned portable hoops and sports equipment from streets and sidewalks in their Carroll County community. Town council members in Smithsburg, Md., are considering similar legislation if existing laws don't prohibit portable hoops on their Washington County neighborhood streets.
"It's a growing epidemic," Smithsburg Mayor Mildred Myers said. "When you drive down some streets, it's like you're driving down a basketball court."
Laws banning portable hoops also have passed in towns in New Jersey, Kentucky, New York, California and Pennsylvania.
But not all jurisdictions agree. Officials in Fairfax and Arlington counties, Alexandria and Falls Church say they don't have plans to ban portable hoops in their communities.
"We don't have any rules on the books, and we're not planning on any," said Peter Leiberg, zoning manager for Alexandria. "We just haven't had any complaints."
Most Maryland localities don't plan a ban either. "It's a growing concern, but I don't think it's a big issue statewide," said Kevin Best, research manager for the Maryland Municipal League, which represents the state's 157 municipalities. "Most towns still don't have overt anti-basketball-hoop ordinances."
Meanwhile, the Sykesville Town Council will review its measure against street ball before voting on it next month. Many upset parents say they plan to cry foul.
"It's just plain silly," said Wendy Rathell, whose two teenage boys, Tim and David, play ball daily at the hoop she bought for $85 earlier this year.
"I'd rather have them playing basketball than getting in trouble."
The hoop stands a few feet back from the Rathells' curb, but the net hangs over the street, making the stand illegal under the bill. Town officials say so many hoops line developments in their 1.5-square-mile Carroll County town — more than 100 at last count — that streets are no longer safe.
"People who say we're trying to ban fun are missing the point," said Sykesville Police Chief John R. Williams. "We're trying to protect children. We have an obligation to keep them safe. It's a civic liability issue. Luckily, we haven't had a child struck or seriously injured by a car. But we shouldn't wait for that to happen before we do something."
Under the law, owners of the portable hoops would receive a warning for the first violation, and a $50 fine and potential impoundment of the equipment on subsequent violations, Chief Williams said. The law was modeled after legislation passed last year in Paulsboro, N.J., a suburb of Philadelphia, he said.
In the meantime, portable-hoop manufacturers are paying close attention to the regulations that are springing up nationwide.
"It's certainly on our radar screen as an industrywide issue," said Mike Kermendy, director of product development for the Wisconsin-based Huffy Sport Co. "But we understand why this is happening. We do not advocate the use of our products in an area where people are driving."
This week, Taneytown officials sent letters advising residents to take down the hoops from streets and curbs. "We had to do something," said Gary Hardman, city manager for Taneytown. "We had people playing full-court games who were running from one sidewalk to another."
Officials in Paulsboro haven't issued any fines after passing their ban last year. "It's been a good tool to get the kids off the street," said Lt. Frank Grogan, of the Paulsboro Police Department. "It's worked. People have accepted it and gotten their equipment out of the streets."
Still, some officials are reluctant to enact legislation to regulate sports equipment and would rather enforce existing laws that govern traffic and public safety issues.
"After a while, you can pass so many laws that everybody is going to be fined for something or another," Mrs. Myers said. "At some point, though, we're going to have to do something."