Broward Trooper Arrests Man for releasing Helium Balloon

You people in FHP must be out of your minds............ ops:

I'm guessing that this was what he charged the guy with (and I'm also guessing that the intent of this statute is for charging more serious "pollution" than releasing balloons):

403.161?Prohibitions, violation, penalty, intent.—(1)?It shall be a violation of this chapter, and it shall be prohibited for any person:
(a)?To cause pollution, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, so as to harm or injure human health or welfare, animal, plant, or aquatic life or property.
(b)?To fail to obtain any permit required by this chapter or by rule or regulation, or to violate or fail to comply with any rule, regulation, order, permit, or certification adopted or issued by the department pursuant to its lawful authority.
(c)?To knowingly make any false statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan, or other document filed or required to be maintained under this chapter, or to falsify, tamper with, or knowingly render inaccurate any monitoring device or method required to be maintained under this chapter or by any permit, rule, regulation, or order issued under this chapter.
(d)?For any person who owns or operates a facility to fail to report to the representative of the department, as established by department rule, within one working day of discovery of a release of hazardous substances from the facility if the owner or operator is required to report the release to the United States Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with 42 U.S.C. s. 9603.
(2)?Whoever commits a violation specified in subsection (1) is liable to the state for any damage caused and for civil penalties as provided in s. 403.141.
(3)?Any person who willfully commits a violation specified in paragraph (1)(a) is guilty of a felony of the third degree punishable as provided in ss. 775.082(3)(d) and 775.083(1)(g) by a fine of not more than $50,000 or by imprisonment for 5 years, or by both, for each offense. Each day during any portion of which such violation occurs constitutes a separate offense.
(4)?Any person who commits a violation specified in paragraph (1)(a) due to reckless indifference or gross careless disregard is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in ss. 775.082(4)(b) and 775.083(1)(g) by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by 60 days in jail, or by both, for each offense.
(5)?Any person who willfully commits a violation specified in paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph (1)(c) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree punishable as provided in ss. 775.082(4)(a) and 775.083(1)(g) by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by 6 months in jail, or by both for each offense.
(6)?It is the legislative intent that the civil penalties and criminal fines imposed by the court be of such amount as to ensure immediate and continued compliance with this section.
History.—s. 17, ch. 67-436; ss. 26, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1, ch. 70-356; s. 1, ch. 70-439; s. 4, ch. 72-286; s. 8, ch. 74-133; s. 139, ch. 77-104; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 21, ch. 88-393; s. 2, ch. 89-143; s. 8, ch. 89-324.

This guy should be fired for stupidity if he did charge for that.

That is why everybody hates FHP. To make a charge like that for someone releasing balloons? ARE YOU SERIOUS? GET A LIFE!

I am a trooper and am very embarrassed by this!

He should have charged him with a Felony for releasing the balloons in the path of a flight line. Aircraft landing on runway 27L go right overhead. I know he exact location and releasing balloons there is a hazard and could have caused a airplane to strike the balloons. BTW I heard this guy was charged with other felonies other than just the environmental crime. He was not an upstanding citizen..... Util ynou are there and know all the facts DON't JUDGE....

He should have charged him with a Felony for releasing the balloons in the path of a flight line. Aircraft landing on runway 27L go right overhead. I know he exact location and releasing balloons there is a hazard and could have caused a airplane to strike the balloons. BTW I heard this guy was charged with other felonies other than just the environmental crime. He was not an upstanding citizen..... Util ynou are there and know all the facts DON't JUDGE....

What's the state statute for that?

He should have charged him with a Felony for releasing the balloons in the path of a flight line. Aircraft landing on runway 27L go right overhead. I know he exact location and releasing balloons there is a hazard and could have caused a airplane to strike the balloons. BTW I heard this guy was charged with other felonies other than just the environmental crime. He was not an upstanding citizen..... Util ynou are there and know all the facts DON't JUDGE....

Looked up the booking earlier.... I think it was just DUS in addition to the Felonious Balloon Launch...

(and since he was charged with DUS, I guess he was behind the wheel while sending his balloons aloft??)

The charge is still absolute bullshit. He may not be the most upstanding citizen, but that charge is a hell of a reach at best, and a total embarrassment.

I looked him up here, and found this:

http://www.clerk-17th-flcourts.org/C...0A&SearchType=

The other two charges were fine on their own. This was a joke, and it makes FHP look like the little ***** that didn't like the game, so he took the ball home.

I wonder why the officer just didn't talk with him and advise him regarding this action etc. I had to go look it up as, I only citation I was into, was when I observed illegal littering or dumping. Never heard about balloons. I think I better watch buying my kids balloons now as if one get’s lose they could be arrested and their life ruined. I think this case will be interesting if it gets to Court. I don't think, the judge will be happy. :|