XENIA — One city in the Miami Valley is reminding families that children cannot play in the street.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
As reported on News Center 7 at 11, Xenia police posted on social media after receiving complaints saying kids were playing in the streets, interrupting traffic.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Woman killed in arson almost 20 years ago; police searching for new answers
- High school lacrosse player dies from injury during game
- Mail carrier robbed at gunpoint, 2 arrested
“You got to give the kids something to do,” Tim Long from Xenia said. “I mean, if they’re going to block the kids from playing basketball on the curb, then they need to give them somewhere to play at.”
Long has two young kids, he says they don’t play in the street.
“I watch my kids closely. I don’t let my kids go down another street or nothing, because you don’t know today.”
Xenia police posted two of the city’s ordinances on social media Thursday morning. They say people can’t put portable hoops, goals or other recreational equipment in the street or on the sidewalk next to the street. The full ordinances are available at the bottom of this story.
“There was a citizen driving down the street, she actually hit one of these basketball hoops in the street, caused significant damage to their car,” Major Lon Etchison with Xenia Police said.
People have also submitted complaints saying the kids don’t get out of the way when cars approach.
Etchison says the post was meant to make sure people are aware of the rules.
“We’re going to work with people to educate them and then get them to voluntarily comply with what the ordinances are,” Etchison said.
The city implemented the ordinance in 2000, and added portable basketball hoops to the list last year.
Not everyone fully agrees with the ordinance.
“I have mixed feelings about that because some kids don’t have a driveway,” Dan Lanier from Xenia said.
Lanier says he understands drivers’ concerns and knows that playing in the street can be dangerous.
“It’s up to the parent to tell them how to do that,” Lanier said. “See a car coming, get out of the street, wait until it passes.”
Police said their goal is to never have to enforce this. They give out written warnings to homeowners across the city and they can issue further punishment, if needed.
Read the full city ordinances below:
410.04 PORTABLE BASKETBALL HOOPS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL APPARATUS.
(a) Prohibition. No person shall place, or permit to be placed, a portable basketball hoop, portable hockey goal, or any other recreational apparatus or play equipment in or upon any street, roadway, or right-of-way. No person shall place or permit to be placed a portable basketball hoop, portable hockey goal, or any other recreational apparatus or play equipment on a curb or driveway within the City when such placement is made to allow the play area to be in the street or roadway.
(b) Removal. The City may remove any a portable basketball hoop, portable hockey goal, or any other recreational apparatus or play equipment located in violation of division (a) of this section without notice to the owner. Such apparatus or equipment may be placed upon the owner’s property or may be impounded, in the sole discretion of the City.
410.06 GAMES ON STREETS
No person shall use the public streets, highways, alleys, or public ways open to the public for the purposes of vehicular travel within the City for the purpose of engaging in or playing any games or athletic activities including, but not limited to, activities such as playing catch, baseball, football, basketball, hockey, sledding or any other recreational, athletic or play activity. No parent, guardian, or person acting in loco parentis shall permit any minor to violate this section.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]