In Clearwater, Playing Catch Is Against The Law

[The Straight Story]

In Clearwater, Playing Catch Is Against The Law


PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Clearwater city officials are working to change a law that makes it illegal to play catch in public.

Under the ordinance, which officials say was passed several years ago, anyone who plays catch on the beach or even at the park is breaking the law. That rule applies to everyone from a toddler playing catch with his father to a newlywed couple tossing a Frisbee.

The only legal way to play ball in Clearwater is in a designated area like a baseball field. Even then, it's supposed to be part of an organized game.

City councilman George Cretekos has been trying for months to get the city council to change the law.

"I also feel like it's important for a child to be able to go out and toss a ball or throw a Frisbee without the fear of being cited for an ordinance violation," he said.

Cretekos said the idea behind the law was to give police the authority to stop a game on the beach or in a park that could possibly hurt someone else. He said he'd like to see the city narrow the law to more careless activities that could actually hurt someone.

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/CountyByCounty/CountyStories/2009/7/23/in_clearwater_playing_catch_is_against_the_law.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. It is in most public parks because ballplayers are often careless. Sad, but true. And I LOVE

to play catch.

[redqueen]

2. Good grief...

how can the citizens there have put up with this for this long?

[FloriTexan]

3. this is crazy....

I grew up in central florida. I also have learned you can't take a dog to the beach anymore - leahc or no. There's like one place in Florida where you can, if you are a resident with a permit you can go like 2 specific hours a night. Something like that. Even if you are camping in a state or national park that is on the shoreline you can walk your dog in the park but not on the beach. We decided not to go to the beach.

[TahitiNut]

4. I guess that explains why Tigers' spring training is so poor.

:dunce:

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Bah-dum-bum-psssh

[BlooInBloo]

5. BWHAAHAHAAHAAA!!!!

[salguine]

7. Hey, any DUers in Clearwater? How about making

Saturday, August 22, a city-wide Play Catch In Public Day? Or a later date if it would leave more time to organize it to be as big as possible? That's the best way to deal with stupid laws like that.