Is it illegal for children to play in the street? (Richmond: lease, neighborhood)

[stackie]

I have an uncomfortable situation with a neighbor. She claims it's illegal for me to have a basketball hoop for my children alongside the curb, i.e. in the street, or sitting on the curb because it's illegal for children to play in the street in Richmond. We live on a quiet street with very little traffic.

Is it really illegal for children to play in a residential street in the city of Richmond? Or is it simply not advisable for safety reasons?

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by stackie

I have an uncomfortable situation with a neighbor. She claims it's illegal for me to have a basketball hoop for my children alongside the curb, i.e. in the street, or sitting on the curb because it's illegal for children to play in the street in Richmond. We live on a quiet street with very little traffic.

Is it really illegal for children to play in a residential street in the city of Richmond? Or is it simply not advisable for safety reasons?

I would suggest calling the city to find out if there is such an ordinance in place.. My guess would be the hoop could be illegal to be on a city street I doubt the children at play part. Not too sure about this!

[Pruzhany]

I'd call the city or the police and ask. Usually if its on your property (or allowed adjacency) its usually legal. I'd go more for a safety concern due to lack of kids at play signs. But also too many people are distracted on cell phones. People, even on quiet roads, are less attentive to thier surroundings compared to 20 years ago. The way things are now, I'd advise adult supervision and teach spotter rules to kids. On the other hand its good to see kids out playing rather than sitting in front of a computer (or TV). Not exactly on this subject line, but I've seen a kid hit by a car while he was crossing in front of the school bus (all lights were blinking). The car came from the opposite direction. And she didn't stop until she passed the bus. The kid has been on PT for about 8 months now. As to the driver, she was a 18 year old texting while driving.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by stackie

I have an uncomfortable situation with a neighbor. She claims it's illegal for me to have a basketball hoop for my children alongside the curb, i.e. in the street, or sitting on the curb because it's illegal for children to play in the street in Richmond. We live on a quiet street with very little traffic.

Is it really illegal for children to play in a residential street in the city of Richmond? Or is it simply not advisable for safety reasons?

Tell your neighbor to shut their mouth and go back in their house! Kids play in the street all the time. Sounds like a pathetic waste of life who likes to be miserable and bothered by the sound of kids having fun.

[Pruzhany]

Originally Posted by stackie
Is it really illegal for children to play in a residential street....?

( a few years late for this thread )

Yes, Its a infraction of the traffic section of Virginia code.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-932

[richmondpics]

On a highway, sure it's illegal, but not a neighborhood street. Your link says bicycles are illegal on highways, so highways can't imply all streets.

[Pruzhany]

Take some time to read the code:

LIS > Code of Virginia

"Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel in the Commonwealth, including the streets and alleys, and, for law-enforcement purposes, (i) the entire width between the boundary lines of all private roads or private streets that have been specifically designated "highways" by an ordinance adopted by the governing body of the county, city, or town in which such private roads or streets are located and (ii) the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place used for purposes of vehicular travel on any property owned, leased, or controlled by the United States government and located in the Commonwealth.

No pedestrian shall step into a highway open to moving vehicular traffic at any point between intersections where his presence would be obscured from the vision of drivers of approaching vehicles by a vehicle or other obstruction at the curb or side. The foregoing prohibition shall not apply to a pedestrian stepping into a highway to board a bus or to enter a safety zone, in which event he shall cross the highway only at right angles.

There is code related to it. But enforcement of it is rare.