$25 fine for each balloon released is now law, thanks to Democrat Nancy Guy
The Democrats turning Virginia into Nanny State keeps “ballooning.”
Starting today, July 1, when most state laws take effect, it will be illegal for anyone over the age of 16 to release a “non-biodegradable balloon” or any material that requires more than five minutes contact with air or water to degrade into the atmosphere,” or face a $25 fine PER BALLOON. Adults are liable for the fine if their kids under 16 release the balloon – even by accident.
Previous law fined people $5 per balloon for 50 or more balloons released.
Apparently, balloon waste washes up on beaches and birds and turtles eat them, according to a study 2013-2020 by Longwood University (Who paid for this one and really, how widespread of a problem is this?)
The law states:
Any person convicted of a violation of this section is liable for a civil penalty of $25 per balloon released or discarded, which shall be paid into Game Protection Fund established pursuant to § 29.1-101.1 29.1-101 [
Government is exempted!
“The provisions of this section shall not apply to any balloon released (a) by or on behalf of any agency of the Commonwealth, or the United States or (b) pursuant to a contract with the Commonwealth, the United States, or any other state, territory, or government for scientific or meteorological purposes or (ii) hot air balloon that are is recovered after launch.”
Most Republicans in the General Assembly voted against it on initial debate, but the liberal media is “blowing” this story out of proportion, as if it’s a major environmental legislative feat.
(Let’s not forget that marijuana is legal in Virginia, as of today, but releasing a balloon in the air will get you fined.)
The Virginian Pilot ran the article page one June 30 with glowing biased reporting, plugging the web sites of the activist groups that pushed for the balloon bill — preventballoonlitter.org; joyfulsendoff.org and balloonsblow.org – and chief patron Delegate Nancy Guy, a Democrat who defeated longtime GOP Rep. Chris Stolle in Virginia Beach/Norfolk in 2019.
Writes the Pilot:
For nearly 10 years, legislators on the hill who tried to ban balloon releases dealt with snarky commentary.
Now, it seems, the unenlightened were full of hot air.
“I had to be willing to take the ribbing even from people I consider my friends,” Guy said. “You would think it would be an easy bill when you fully understand it’s a legalized form of littering.”
Ok, I will do some ribbing and snark. This law is a lot of “Ballooney” and unenforceable.
How can one fine someone for waste on a beach without seeing them release the balloon in the first place, unless the balloon bears the name of a company, product or maybe a political candidate? NOTE: I used balloons in my Leesburg campaigns and distributed them at the Loudoun County Fair (see photo above) and I am sure many were accidentally released.
The legislation is unenforceable unless the anti-balloon groups form squads to spy on outdoor events. (I wonder if they a Leftist-funded, or fronts by businesses that compete against balloons?) But they have won passage of similar laws in job-killing Nanny State Maryland — where the fines start at age 13 – plus California and other “blue” states.
Most of Guy’s bills deal with environmental and energy issues, and few have been adopted into law. She obviously is a waste of flesh in the House of Delegates, and her seat is targeted by the Republican State Leadership Coalition.
She clearly wants to “suck the air out of the room” from a good party and like many liberals, has an “inflated ego.”
We need to “blow her” out of office this November. Please support Republican Tim Anderson and visit his web site. https://www.timforva.com/
I have met Tim dozens of times and he is a solid lawyer and not a “blowhard.”
