Louisiana May Fine You Up to $500 for Balloon Releases

Have you ever been part of a memorial service that released balloons in Shreveport? I have attended several funerals where we are asked to release a balloon at the gravesite or outside of a church to honor and commemorate someone's memory. Before you release a balloon into the air, think twice; it could cause a power outage or, even worse, kill an innocent animal.

Do You Know the Dangers of Releasing Balloons into the Air?

It isn't just the pollution that we need to be worried about. Yes, we have heard about the crazy stories where a balloon entanglement led to a crazy power outage, and we know that releasing balloons into the air causes pollution, however, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been warning us about the dangers to wildlife of all kinds. Some animals may confuse a balloon as a food source, which leads to internal blockages and starvation, and this sounds like one of the cruelest ways to die. The good news is we can put an end to this careless act.

Releasing Balloons in Louisiana Could Soon Mean a Fine

Louisiana House Bill 581, introduced by Representative John "Big John" Illg, Jr. could be the end to releasing balloons in the air. Who wants to get hit with fines, right? If enacted, violators could face penalties for releasing balloons outdoors. This bill suggests a fine of $150 for a first violation, $250 for a second violation, and $500 for a third violation. You'd better hold onto your balloons moving forward.

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All the money collected from the fines would be sent directly to the Litter Abatement Account within the Conservation Fund. Do you think that this needs to happen in Louisiana?