• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

Balloons Banned from Jersey Shore Towns

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - February 23, 2017

People caught releasing a balloon in Atlantic City, NJ could face a $500 fine.
People caught releasing a balloon in Atlantic City, NJ could face a $500 fine.

The City Council of Atlantic City, New Jersey, voted last night to ban balloons from this Jersey Shore town. Often seen after special events or celebrations, balloons can float around in the sky, carried by local wind currents. Local politicians became concerned with what happens when they stop flying in the air: some could come down and create waste at area beaches, while others could be swallowed by marine life. Similar bans have passed in Ventnor, Margate and Longport  in the Garden State.


The Atlantic City Council unanimously adopted the ordinance which imposes a $500 fine to “people or groups releasing balloons filled with gas-lighter-than-air”, such as helium.

A bird is strangled by a balloon string in a wire. Photo: Pamela Denmon, United States Fish & Wildlife Service.
A bird is strangled by a balloon string in a wire. Photo: Pamela Denmon, United States Fish & Wildlife Service.

Atlantic City Councilman Frank Gilliam sponsored the ban.  “Atlantic City is a beautiful place,” Gilliam said. “The ocean is a beautiful element of our existence, so we want to protect it in any way we can.”

According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, birds, turtles and other animals commonly mistake balloons for food, which can harm or kill them. Many animals can become entagled in baloon strings, which can kill them or damage their feet/hands/wings.

Anti-Balloon groups and websites recommend that people enjoy the sky with other means, such as kites. The BalloonsBlow.org website recommends people replace balloons with flags, banners, streamers, and dancing inflatables. According to their website, “Many businesses are realizing the benefits of using reusable eye-catching signage. Colorful streamers, flags and banners save money and time over balloons, ribbons and helium. They are also weather resistant, save Helium, and can be reused again and again!”

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Spring 2023 Arrives Today
  • Incident Meteorologists Provide Additional Support at Special All-Hazard Events
  • Unseasonably Cold Air Surges South and East Triggering Warnings
  • 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season Storm Names Unveiled
  • NOAA Issues Spring Flood Outlook
  • Mid Atlantic Rocket “GO” For Launch Thursday
  • Out of Control Chinese Rocket Heads to Texas
  • Winter Storm Warnings, Wind Advisories, Flood Warnings Up as Nor’Easter Takes Shape
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022