Pokemon GO players who violate Newnan’s ordinance prohibiting the game in the city’s cemeteries could face $1,000 fines and up to six months’ jail time.



The Newnan City Council amended the controversial ordinance Tuesday, paving the way for punishing not only gamers but anyone who assists them in evading or violating the ordinance.

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Mayor Pro Tem Cynthia Jenkins was the lone opposing vote. The council originally adopted the ordinance in July.

Citing large crowds “engaging in activities that are detrimental to the dignity of the cemeteries by congregating in cemetery streets, thereby blocking legitimate visitation of the grave sites by family members of loved ones,” and a desire to keep the city’s cemeteries a “dignified, peaceful setting,” the ordinance specifically prohibits “playing Internet or cell phone games.”

Council members attribute some cemetery damage – displaced and damaged headstones, overturned flower arrangements and damaged cemetery infrastructure – to Pokemon GO players.

Pokemon GO is a video game which uses a cellphone’s GPS to locate creatures (Pokemon) the players – called “trainers” – can capture, train and battle against other creatures. Through virtual reality, the Pokemon appear in the same real-world location as the player.

Downloaded by approximately 75 million people worldwide, the game has been blamed for causing distracted-driving wrecks, injuries to distracted players and public nuisance when throngs of players clog locations.