Ryan Lau | @agorisms

For decades, if not more, snowball fights have been a fun winter activity for children across the globe. But a Utah city is now taking a page out of Bomont’s book and banning a harmless activity.

This city, however, breaks from Footloose, as they allow dancing. Instead, they prohibit the throwing of snowballs within its borders.

According to AccuWeather, this particular law has been around for a long time. The city’s ordinances outline the details of the snowball ban. Specifically, codes 9.14.100-101 explain that “every person who shall throw…stick, snowball, or other missile whereby any person shall be hit…is guilty of a misdemeanor”.

Though obviously, law enforcement cannot catch every instance of snowball-throwing delinquents, they have responded to calls of the kids having too much fun.

Reactions to the Snowball Ban

In one instance, a woman called the police after kids accidentally hit her with a snowball. They arrived at the scene and he demanded to see their IDs, threatening to take them to the station. Eventually, though, he left and told them to work out the situation on their own.

Though many believe this law to be unjust or just plain obsolete, Provo city spokesman Michael Mower defended it. He stated that “sticks and stones can break people’s bones and sometimes we need to be able to prosecute that”. However, he did not cite anything that suggested a snowball is capable of breaking a bone or otherwise causing injury.

The citizens of Provo, particularly youth, take varying approaches to the snowball ban. Some have little regard for it, choosing to throw snowballs anyway. Still, others mock it in an innocent, and enjoyable fashion.

“I ran out in shorts and my hat…but evidently, throwing snowballs is literally against the law. We settled for snow bowling”, said one Mormon missionary, who prefers to remain nameless. “All it takes is a few beautifully crafted snow pins and a snowball for a good time”.

At this time, there is little discussion of changing the law, despite recent media attention.

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