Balloon ban deflated

According to a press release from Sen. Jack Scott's office, the mylar balloon ban bill has been altered into a compromise that ditches the outright ban, and instead takes the following 5 steps (the pithy comments in parentheses are mine):

1) Increase fines from $100 to $250. (I guess this means fines on releasing mylar balloons into the air, though I have no idea how you enforce that)

2) Prohibits the use of toys or candy as weights. (?)

3) Balloon safety flyer to be posted at business or handed out with purchase. (yeah that won't get thrown right in the garbage.)

4) Increase in size of typeface used on balloon warning label. (didn't work with cigarettes)

5) Study by University of California to be privately funded and reported to Legislature and Governor. (it would be pretty depressing if the pinnacle of your academic career is to be on this study)

Our intrepid reporter Janette Williams will be filing the full story on the bill tomorrow. Then, let us never speak of it again.