The city of Jackson is calling a foul on residents who use portable basketball goals to play in the city's streets.

In a news release issued earlier this week, Rodney Bollinger, director of public works, said children, teens and young adults are taking to public streets in greater numbers to play basketball in violation of the Jackson city code.

"Complaints from residents about this activity are on the increase," Bollinger said. "The city felt it was time to put a new emphasis on this as a community safety issue."

The news release cited the availability and affordability of portable basketball goals as the primary reason for the rise in street basketball. It also noted that adjacent residents sometimes object to the noise and the gathering of young people in the street, and passing motorists run the risk of hitting children.

"Playing basketball in the street is an accident waiting to happen." Bollinger said.

The Jackson Police Department will be responsible for enforcing the code against basketball in the streets.

"There haven't been any accidents so far, but there's been complaints from motorists and neighbors," said officer Larry Miller. "But with kids being out of school, the summer months can be a peak time for accidents to happen."

Miller, who is in charge of the city's nuisance program, said the release was issued so that people who play basketball in the streets will have the opportunity to remove their portable goals. If violations continue, letters will be sent to individuals who aren't complying. If there is further noncompliance, a summons will be issued to a violator.

"We just want to keep accidents from happening," Miller said.

Using a portable goal to play basketball in the streets isn't necessarily a violation of the Cape Girardeau city code, according to Officer Darin Hickey of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

"There's no violation if a group of players stay out of the way of passing motorists," Hickey said. "But if they are creating traffic problems, then it becomes a violation that we're going to enforce."

Hickey said he and other officers will sometimes explain to street basketball players who create traffic problems that they are breaking the law.

"A lot of times, they don't know they're doing it," he said. "I think it's better to talk with them and get the matter cleared up than to have an enforcement action."

However, if street basketball players continue to create problems, Hickey said the city code will be enforced.

"If it keeps up, citations will be issued adults and juveniles will be summoned into juvenile court," he said.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address: 101 Court St., Jackson, MO

525 S. Hope St., Cape Girardeau, MO

40 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO