A law that had aged very badly. The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday, January 13, to repeal a municipal law described as “particularly absurd.”
Unanimously, all 14 voting members agreed to direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance to repeal Section 56.16 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. This one which makes playing ball in certain residential streets or on certain sidewalks punishable by a fine… and a prison sentence, summarizes NBC Los Angeles.
“No person shall play ball or any game of ball or football, nor throw, throw, shoot or project any stone, sinker, bullet, arrow or any other projectile, into, over, across, along any street or sidewalk, or in any public park, except in those parts of these places specially designed for that purpose,” states this law. Until now, violators could be fined up to $1,000 and imprisoned for up to six months.
What about the other activities mentioned?
“In the City of Los Angeles, it is illegal (…) for a parent to play catch with their child on the sidewalk in front of their home, or for children to play soccer or kick a soccer ball on a quiet residential street or even in many public parks,” summarized City Councilor Bob Blumenfield in his motion to repeal the law. “It’s a law of nameless absurdity,” he denounces.
Bob Blumenfield’s motion points out that all of the more serious activities listed in the code section, such as shooting a firearm or archery, are already prohibited by other municipal laws. According to authorities, this law was enacted in 1945, the first year for which documents referring to this motion could be found.
