The Laguna Beach City Council voted Tuesday to ban the sale and public use of balloons in 2024. The new ordinance is being cheered by environmentalists, but it’s going down like a lead balloon with the party industry.
The list of possible balloon hazards is endless. They can tangle with power lines, leading to fires or outages. They can also be ingested by wildlife and marine animals.
Under the ordinance, residents will still be able to use balloons on their private property, but they’ll have to go to another city to buy them. Balloons will be prohibited at public parks and at all city events.
Violators will face fines of $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation, and $500 for each additional violation thereafter.
Read more at the Associated Press.