L.L. 2005/100
Enactment date: 12/1/2005
Int. No. 528-A
By Council Members Vallone Jr., Addabbo Jr., Fidler, Gennaro, Jennings, Katz, Koppell, Nelson, Recchia Jr., Rivera, Vann, Seabrook, Gentile and Liu
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to proscribing certain conduct at major venue sporting events.
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Legislative intent and findings. Unruly behavior at professional sporting events, and at sporting events at major venues, has increased in recent years. In 2003, local law 61 was adopted to make it illegal to enter the playing area of a professional sporting event or to enter such area and assault or attempt to assault a professional sports participant. This local law, however, only penalizes the entering of the playing area or the assault or attempted assault of a professional sports participant after entering the playing area of the professional sporting event, but does not address the tossing or hurling of objects, substances or dangerous instruments onto the playing area of a sporting event, the tossing or hurling of an object, substance or dangerous instrument at a sports participant during a sporting event, or the assault or attempted assault of a professional sports participant from the viewing area of a sporting event.
The Council finds that tossing or hurling objects, substances or dangerous instruments onto the playing area of a professional sporting event, and at sporting events at major venues, may cause serious injury and may result in violence, particularly in a crowded venue during a sporting event. It is not the intent of this local law to penalize traditional fan participation in sports events, including but not limited to throwing a ball back onto the field after a home run, or the tossing of hats onto the rink after a hat trick in a hockey game. Rather, this local law is intended to address that behavior which is not part of a sports tradition but is intended to cause physical injury or disrupt an event.
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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]
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§ 5. This local law shall take effect 30 days after its enactment into law.