Authorities in Louisville, Kentucky, have admitted that legislation regarding banned balloon releases is unlikely to be enforced.
Balloon releases have been coming under fire from environmentalists for some time now, with a number of bans now in place across both the US and the UK.
Letting helium-filled balloons free as part of a release has been against the law in Louisville, Kentucky, since 2013, when concerns about dangers to wildlife and long-term littering saw the releases, which are often held to celebrate key occasions or in memory of loved ones, restricted under local legislation.
However, city officials could find no evidence in the last five years of any citations issued to anyone for sending balloons into the air, according to information from the Louisville Metro Police and city code enforcement officials.
Tony Hyatt, who represents the majority caucus on Metro Council said that the law should be upheld. “The police have been told there is a (balloon) law on the books and it needs to be enforced.”
Sgt. John Bradley, police public information commander, responded simply, saying: “There is a time for strict enforcement and a time for tolerance and understanding.”
