CONCORD – People will want to hold onto their balloons if the Senate agrees with a House vote yesterday to ban balloon releases.
By a vote of 215 to 111, the House approved a bill that treats balloon releases as a form of littering.
HB 62 originally barred the release of two dozen or more lighter-than-air balloons.
The version that passed yesterday could bring a $250 fine for even a single balloon let loose. A second offense could bring a $500 fine. The bill specifically exempts hot air balloons, weather balloons and others released as part of scientific research.
The bill does not penalize accidental releases.
Those who favored the bill said the balloon materials, including the attached strings and ribbons, pose a serious threat to wildlife. Whales, turtles and seabirds that live along New Hampshire's coastline mistakenly eat floating balloons thinking they are food, and then are unable to eat real food.
"Do we now get balloon police?" Rep. Randolph Holden, R-Goffstown, asked.
If this law was in effect when my daughter was little I'd be a lifer by now. We had heard many stories of little kids who had choked on balloons after biting them, so when a restaurant or other place would give my daughter a balloon, before we got in the car we would "set it free". She thought freedom for balloons was a pretty good thing and didn't mind watching them float away.
I never realized my conduct was so terribly criminal.
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