COMMENTARY | Has Los Angeles County turned into Sombertown? Earlier this week, according to CBS Los Angeles, the California county passed a 37-page ordinance that prohibits "any person to cast, toss, throw, kick or roll" any object other than a beach ball or volleyball "upon or over any beach" between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
The new law reminds me of the 1970 Christmas movie in which the Burgermeister Meisterburger decides to declare toys a danger to the town's citizens and exclaims, "Toys are hereby declared illegal, immoral, unlawful AND anyone found with a toy in his possession will be placed under arrest and thrown in the dungeon!"
The only difference is, citizens caught in violation of the area's new ordinance will be fined $1,000. This means no tossing a football and no throwing a Frisbee on the sands of L.A. County beaches. They've even gone as far as prohibiting anyone "digging any hole deeper than 18 inches into the sand except where permission is granted for film and TV production services only."
This really just goes too far. How many of us have memories of digging a hole in the sand to build a castle, or even to throw your little brother or sister in, and bury them up to their neck, capturing that ultimate family photo? No longer is this allowed in L.A. County, for fear the hole could cause injury to a person visiting one of their precious beaches.
While I understand wanting to protect the public, this is so far beyond reasonable, I'm truly baffled. Perhaps the county needs to go back and watch "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and remember what being a kid is all about.
What's next? No dancing on the beach? No running, skipping and playing? Any of those activities could potentially be considered dangerous too.
With the many recent discussions about there being too many laws in the Golden State, you would think that Los Angeles County might take that into consideration. Last year, a lawmaker even called for a bill for fewer bills.
Assemblyman Brian Nestande (R-Palm Desert) remarked, "I'm sure each bill is important to each author," Nestande said, "but when you add it up, it's just too much.... It almost seems like some people are straining to have a bill."
California's economy has already been in a very poor state. Did the County consider that fewer tourists will be inclined to visit their area beaches after they have effectively banned many of the fun activities that beach goers enjoy?
This ordinance seems to showcase a deep lack of common sense.
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