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Hey Pandas, AITA For Contacting The Police Over Concerns About Children Playing In The Street?
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Hey Pandas, AITA For Contacting The Police Over Concerns About Children Playing In The Street?

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Moderator’s note:

If you find yourself disagreeing with this person’s actions, we encourage you not to downvote the post. Instead, kindly express your opinions in the comments. We recommend maintaining politeness and articulating your thoughts with well-constructed arguments.

Like most people, I was always taught to not play in the street, and if I was riding something to stay out of the way and avoid traffic.

Unfortunately, others feel it’s okay to play in the street, even when there are city laws that say it’s illegal

Image credits: George Barker (not the actual photo)

On one tight corner of my hometown there is a family of 4 kids between the ages of 8-18, and their mother actively encourages them to play in the road, and they have even put up basket ball hoops.

I run a delivery business and several times over the past few years, whenever this woman’s kids are playing, they don’t leave the street and she comes out and yells at us for passing by

Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (not the actual photo)

Usually, because her kids start screaming. I am a safety and legal type person, and today, when they refused to leave the street, I told the kids that it was illegal to have the hoop and be playing. As always, they ran to tell their mother who came out and started yelling at me while I was making a delivery to her neighbor.

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When I tried to drive away they called me names and told me I should call the police. So, I parked safely, just up the road, and called the police

Image credits: Pixabay (not the actual photo)

Told them where to meet us. When the officer came, I explained we have been having an issue and specified that I was concerned about safety, and what they were doing was illegal and dangerous. A mother should not be encouraging illegal behavior, in my opinion. The officer said he didn’t know the ordinances involved, but he felt it was okay to have kids playing outside rather than indoors. I left the situation without talking to the mother again, and went home to find the actual ordinance. I then called and left a message for the officer telling him which one it was.

So, am I in the wrong? Should I just ignore the kids’ refusal to get out of the road and agree with the officer that it’s okay since it gets them out of the house?

Moderator’s note:

Please note that the images included in this article are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the actual individuals or items discussed in the story.

If you have a comparable experience or story you’d like to tell, we welcome your submissions. Click here to share your story with Bored Panda.

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Ieva Midveryte

Ieva Midveryte

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Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

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Ieva Midveryte

Ieva Midveryte

Moderator, BoredPanda staff

Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

What do you think ?
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justinsmith_1 avatar
Justin Smith
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The big thing is the kids refusing to get out of the road when a car was coming. And the mother getting mad that cars are driving on the street.

maryannemackie_1 avatar
Maryanne Mackie
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the parents should instruct the kids to move to the side when a car comes down the road.

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bookfanatic1979 avatar
BookFanatic
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We played in the street all the time as kids. The oldest was in charge of yelling "CAR!" and we'd all scatter.

laugh avatar
Laugh or not
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. We played in the street all the time when it wasn't raining or too cold, even at night in summer. As soon as a car came up, we would stay on the side walk safely. Those kids are entitled idiots.

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josephdixon avatar
Joseph Dixon
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are kids who play basketball in the street where I live. They usually clear out as soon as they hear a car, so it doesn't bother me. However, if the kids just keep playing like no one was there, then that would be a huge issue.

jonconstant avatar
ConstantlyJon
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It'd be a problem, but would your first instinct genuinely be to say "this is illegal!" and go and look up city ordinances? Because my first instinct would be to knock on the door myself and have an adult conversation with the mom.

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justinsmith_1 avatar
Justin Smith
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The big thing is the kids refusing to get out of the road when a car was coming. And the mother getting mad that cars are driving on the street.

maryannemackie_1 avatar
Maryanne Mackie
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the parents should instruct the kids to move to the side when a car comes down the road.

Load More Replies...
bookfanatic1979 avatar
BookFanatic
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We played in the street all the time as kids. The oldest was in charge of yelling "CAR!" and we'd all scatter.

laugh avatar
Laugh or not
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same. We played in the street all the time when it wasn't raining or too cold, even at night in summer. As soon as a car came up, we would stay on the side walk safely. Those kids are entitled idiots.

Load More Replies...
josephdixon avatar
Joseph Dixon
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are kids who play basketball in the street where I live. They usually clear out as soon as they hear a car, so it doesn't bother me. However, if the kids just keep playing like no one was there, then that would be a huge issue.

jonconstant avatar
ConstantlyJon
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It'd be a problem, but would your first instinct genuinely be to say "this is illegal!" and go and look up city ordinances? Because my first instinct would be to knock on the door myself and have an adult conversation with the mom.

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