PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Clearwater city officials are working to change a law that makes it illegal to play catch in public.
Under the ordinance, which officials say was passed several years ago, anyone who plays catch on the beach or even at the park is breaking the law. That rule applies to everyone from a toddler playing catch with his father to a newlywed couple tossing a Frisbee.
The only legal way to play ball in Clearwater is in a designated area like a baseball field. Even then, it's supposed to be part of an organized game.
City councilman George Cretekos has been trying for months to get the city council to change the law.
"I also feel like it's important for a child to be able to go out and toss a ball or throw a Frisbee without the fear of being cited for an ordinance violation," he said.
Cretekos said the idea behind the law was to give police the authority to stop a game on the beach or in a park that could possibly hurt someone else. He said he'd like to see the city narrow the law to more careless activities that could actually hurt someone.
"The ordinance says that you can't throw a javelin at a beach or a park...obviously," he said.
The city staff is working on changing the ordinance. The city council should look at the amended law for a vote sometime next month.
Partial Text Of Section 22.49
"No person or persons shall engage in rough or potentially dangerous activity such as football, baseball, softball, horseshoes, tennis, volleyball, badminton, or any other organized activity involving thrown or otherwise propelled objects such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins, shuttlecocks, Frisbees, model aircraft or roller skates on any public bathing beach or park property except in areas set aside for that purpose."
Information from Central Florida News 13's Bright House Networks affiliate Bay News 9 was used in this report.
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