Is It Illegal To Release Balloons? Viral Accident Video Dissected

Who doesn’t love a good celebration? Most parties and special occasions have drinks, food, fun decorations, and, if you’re lucky, balloons. Despite their playful appearance, balloons can cause a lot of accidents. This is specifically true when you release balloons. Balloon releases are so dangerous that many states and cities have implemented balloon sale and release laws. In this article, we will discuss some of the dangers released balloons can cause and answer, “Is it illegal to release balloons?” 

Balloon Release Leads to Major Power Outage 

This family’s viral graduation balloon release video sparked surprise online. In the video, a girl holds a large bouquet of mylar graduation balloons. She raises her arms and releases them into the air. The wind carries them upward, and they quickly drift into a nearby power line. Realizing the impending accident, the family watches in shock. With a loud boom, the balloons ignite on the power line, causing a power outage that affects all houses and businesses in the area.

Despite it being a clear accident, would the girl be responsible? Is it illegal to release balloons? 

Is It Illegal to Release Balloons? An Attorney’s Opinion

Many people have quickly taken to the comment section to give their opinion on the video, but is it illegal to release balloons? 

According to attorney Ugo Lord, many states have laws prohibiting the release of balloons. Specifically, California has laws against releasing mylar balloons to prevent such accidents. Assuming the person in the video is in a state that has balloon release laws, she would be subject to pay any fines related to her actions. 

Regardless of if she lived in a “no balloon release” jurisdiction, her actions still show some level of negligence, regardless of intent. Although she did not mean to cause a power outage, she did make the active choice to release the balloons in an urban area. Consequently, even without balloon release laws, she would be liable for the damages she caused. 

Balloon Release Laws

Currently, 10 states have laws regarding the sale and release of balloons. Those states include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia.

In addition to state laws, individual cities like Huntsville, Alabama, and Bainbridge Island, Washington, enforce their laws. Most laws require that balloons be sold with specific safety features and prohibit their release. In some lenient states where release is allowed, regulations dictate how many balloons you can release at a given time.

California has some of the most strict and specific balloon release laws. According to their legislature, balloons that are made from a conductive material and contain a gas that is lighter than air must have:

• A weighted attachment to counter the upward lift of the balloon.
• A printed manufacturer label. 
• A printed statement warning consumers about the dangers of releasing the balloons near electrical equipment. 

On top of these sales requirements, California also has laws that prohibit the release of conductive balloons. If someone breaks one of these laws, they face an infraction and a fine of up to $100. Repeated violations can lead to misdemeanor charges.

As an exception, most states say that hot air balloons, weather balloons, and other research balloons do not fall under a prohibited status. 

What’s So Bad About Balloons? 

At this point, you may ask yourself why these laws are so strict. Balloons are just harmless party decorations, right? 

There are countless reasons why states and cities have begun to implement balloon release laws. Two of the most common are: 

• Balloons create a significant environmental hazard upon release. Regardless of the type of balloon you release, it will cause environmental issues. According to CBS News, people often view balloons as ” far away litter.” In other words, while you won’t ever see a balloon after you release it, it will certainly travel far away with the wind and land back down as litter. Balloons often pop after they float to a certain altitude. This can create microplastics and small pieces of trash that spread further and are harder to recapture. On top of their pollutive nature, released balloons often end up in waterways, where they are mistakenly eaten as food by wildlife.

• Mylar balloons don’t break down and can easily cause electrical accidents. Compared to latex balloons that can sometimes biodegrade, mylar balloons will break into smaller pieces. This means that once released, their impact is practically impossible to reverse. In addition to this, mylar balloons are highly conductive and can cause electrical accidents. For this reason, states such as California have specifically passed legislation (and are still passing legislation) to prevent accidental power outages and fires. 

If Not Balloons, Then What? 

Balloons are an issue when it comes to their release, electrical risk, and environmental impact. Although only 10 states have balloon release laws, it is likely that the answer to the question “Is it illegal to release balloons?” will soon become “Yes!” regardless of where you live. 

If you want to celebrate a special occasion, you can always buy balloons, but you must handle and dispose of them properly. To prevent balloon accidents altogether, some have been advocating for other forms of celebration, such as tree planting, party poppers, or even specific biodegradable balloons. 

Regardless of what you choose for your next occasion, watching videos like the one above can often remind you why we have unique laws, such as balloon release laws!