Las Vegas Considers Ban on Balloon Releases After Power Outage

The City of Las Vegas is mulling over new penalties for releasing certain types of balloons following a recent power outage linked to a mylar balloon.

Proposed Ordinance Targets Balloon Releases

The proposed ordinance would ban the outdoor release of all lighter-than-air balloons except for those used for meteorological or government purposes, or hot air balloons that are retrieved after use.

Mylar Balloon Blamed for Power Outage

This proposal comes just one week after a mylar balloon caused a power outage affecting roughly 12,000 people in the Las Vegas Valley. Councilwoman Nancy Brune, who sponsored the bill, sees this incident as a clear sign of the need for stricter regulations.

Public Awareness Campaign Planned

Brune emphasized the importance of public awareness even before a potential vote on the ordinance. The city council plans to launch a public information campaign highlighting the potential consequences of releasing certain types of balloons.

Graduation Season a Time for Concern

With graduation season approaching, Brune acknowledges this as a peak time for balloon releases. She cited statistics indicating approximately 400 outages in Las Vegas over the past four years caused by mylar balloons.

Committee Vote Not Discouraging

Although a recommending committee voted against the bill, it will still be presented to the City Council for a full vote on June 5th.

Credits: Fox5Vegas