It is hereby found and declared that it will be the public policy
of the City of Long Branch to take action when feasible to reduce
the effects of certain products utilized, placed, or released within
the environment in order to protect the health and safety of the general
public.
This chapter is adopted in order to protect the environment,
particularly the wildlife, and the health, safety and well-being of
persons and property by prohibiting the release of balloons inflated
with lighter-than-air gases into the atmosphere, including, but not
limited to, latex and Mylar, as it has been determined that the release
of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gases poses a danger and
nuisance to the environment, particularly to wildlife and marine animals
so as to constitute a public nuisance and may pose a threat to the
safety of its inhabitants and their property.
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to
intentionally release, organize the release of, or intentionally cause
to be released balloons inflated with a gas that is lighter than air
within the City of Long Branch limits, except for:
A. Balloons released by a person on behalf of a governmental agency
or pursuant to a governmental contract for scientific or meteorological
purposes;
B. Hot air balloons that are recovered after launching; and
C. Balloons released indoors.
Any person found in violation of this Chapter
110 is guilty of a noncriminal infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed the sum of $500.