The sight of balloons being released into the air during a memorial moment from a spot where someone - often a child - was killed gives the sense that the balloons are reaching up to be with the child in Heaven - But the balloons never reach Heaven. When balloons are released into the air they drift and never fall near the spot of release. Often the balloons land over marshes or water where they are ingested and harm or kill animals and marine life. At times - the balloons have drifted into power lines cutting off power for entire sections of a city. Businesses have suffered financial loss as a result of the loss of power and the loss of power can also lead to boil water advisories. Releasing balloons may have a warm, sympathetic image - but balloon releases can be dangerous.
Beginning this Saturday, August 1, balloon release across the state of Louisiana will become a crime. The city of New Orleans banned the release of balloons in 2024 - but that has not stopped people from releasing balloons in honor of loved ones who have been killed.
The new Louisiana state law bans the release of 12 or more balloons. The New Orleans ordinance banning balloon releases makes it a crime to release any number of balloons. Releasing balloons in the city carries fines up to $1,000. The fines for releasing 12 or more balloons in the state carry fines from $500 to $2,500.
A Tough Penalty To Enforce
The state law banning balloon releases that include 12 or more balloons is ridiculous. It only takes 1 balloon to knock out power if that 1 balloon hits a power line. It takes only 1 balloon to injure or kill animals or marine life. It’s interesting that the state of Louisiana is a red state with a Republican governor - but the state law seems liberal since it allows the release of up to 12 balloons. The city of New Orleans is blue with a Democrat for a mayor and one would think that the city law would be more liberal - but it is actually stricter by not allowing any balloons to be released. Now - the state’s fines are much greater than the city’s fines for balloon releases. The ideal law would ban the release of all balloons and would carry very stiff fines. But there are problems with enforcing these laws.
How do you enforce the laws that ban balloon releases? Balloon releases are conducted as part of a very emotional and solemn time - remembering the death of a loved one or friend. Would law enforcement pick up on social media when a balloon release is going to happen and be positioned at the site for an immediate citation to be issued to the grieving family? Would the citations be mailed to the grieving family? And what are the chances that the families will actually pay the fines? I think - not good.
Laws that are not enforced are a meaningless waste of time. Laws that are not practical to enforce are pointless. But the idea of a stake-out by law enforcement at the moment of the emotional balloon release is a difficult situation for any officer.
The new state law and the New Orleans ordinance are good laws because they protect communities or entire cities and they protect animals and marine life - but these laws must be enforced if they are to be effective. If not enforced - they are just “feel-good” laws that make citizens feel like something good has been done when nothing has been done to right a wrong. Law enforcement has t o figure out a way to issue citations and citizens who are guilty of balloon releases will have no choice other than respect the laws.
Balloon Releases Are More Popular With One Community
Without concrete stats - in the city of New Orleans - it appears that balloon releases are much more common to the African-American communities. When a culture adopts a tradition it can be difficult to manifest change. But even if there is a disproportionate number of African-American citizens releasing balloons in honor of loved ones who have been killed - the laws must be enforced and there must be an understanding that this is not about race - it is about behavior that has the potential to inflict harm on a community, animals, or marine life.
The release of balloons to remember and honor a loved one who has been killed has become a tradition - particularly with the Black community - but this is an adopted tradition that dates back only a couple of decades. It’s not as if this is a tradition deeply embedded into African culture.
I have great respect for anyone who is grieving over the loss of a child - or any loved one - but releasing balloons might be a pleasing symbol for family and friends - but releasing balloons is not bringing anyone back and the action has the potential to negatively impact communities, animals, and marine life. Any tradition that could have a serious impact on others should not be considered a worthwhile tradition.
Any energy spent on fighting the new state law and the city ordinance banning balloon releases would be better spent on objecting to the senseless killings - especially the killings that take the lives of children.
