Holding a balloon release to celebrate or honor someone? That’s illegal in Virginia starting July 1 You could be fined up to $25 per balloon
LYNCHBRUG, Va. – One new Virginia law deals with releasing balloons.
Balloons that are intentionally released into the air, like at celebrations or memorials for example, can be considered hazardous to the environment.
As of July 1, you could be fined up to $25 per balloon.
[Legal marijuana, revoking the death penalty and 16 other laws that go into effect across Virginia on July 1]
Katie Register, the director of Clean Virginia Waterways at Longwood University, said balloons and plastic ribbons wind up hurting animals, “Birds want to nest, turtles want to nest; so they really are an environmental issue and when people intentionally release dozens or hundreds of balloons. They 100% return to earth.”
Virginia already has a law banning the intentional releasing of 50 or more balloons per hour.
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About the Author Tim Harfmann headshot
Tim Harfmann joined the 10 News team in September 2020 and works at the station's Lynchburg bureau.
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