Elmira Police To Enforce City Ordinance Regarding Portable Basketball Hoops In City Streets

[TTL News 317]

Elmira Police Chief Kristen Thorne has issued a reminder to city residents about portable basketball hoops and other items in the city roadways. 

Thorne says that historically the Elmira Police Department has consistently received complaints around this time of year and into the warmer summer months in regards to basketball hoops set up around the city. The basketball hoops being placed either in the roadway, on the public sidewalk or in the area between the sidewalk and curb.

Having a basketball hoop located at any of these three locations is in violation of Elmira City Ordinance 20-3 – Obstructions on sidewalks, streets, right-of-ways prohibited. The issue being that they interfere with the normal, intended use of the sidewalk, street or right-of-way.

Thorne says the Elmira Police Department understands the value of having a location where individuals can come hang out together and enjoy a sport. With that said the issues that these hoops tend to create need to be considered also. That being, individuals blocking the sidewalk forcing
pedestrians to walk around, individuals blocking the roadway and failing to move for vehicles operating on the street and the possibility of injury that may occur if an individual is struck by a vehicle while in the roadway.

Due to these issues the Elmira Police Department will be enforcing this City Ordinance. Elmira Police Officers have the discretion to issue verbal warnings for these violations as a way to inform the individuals about the City Ordinance. In the event verbal warnings are issued but discarded and the basketball hoop is kept up in violation the Elmira Police Department may look to issue an appearance ticket for the City Ordinance violation and impound the basketball hoop.

Below is City Ordinance: Sec. 20-3.:

Quote

Obstructions on sidewalks, streets, right-of ways prohibited: (b) Recreational activities. No person shall engage in any activity on any public sidewalk, street or right-of-way, or place or caused to be placed, any item or object thereon, except as otherwise lawfully permitted to do so by this section, which would tend to interfere with the normal, intended use of said sidewalk, street or right-of-way, regardless of whether or not such interference actually takes place.

 

[Chris 2,218]

Good. 

These things sometimes making it difficult to get down some of the smaller streets in the city.