Just earlier this month, police in Venice issued up to 400 Euros in fines for parents. Their kids, between 12 and 13 years of age, were playing football in Pino Signoretto square on the island of Murano. This recent incident has opened up an important debate. Residents and tourists alike are raising concerns over the enforcement of regulations that prohibit ball games on some streets in Venice.
One of these children was called in to the police by a local resident for making a “nuisance noise.” Immediately after receiving the complaint, police were able to swiftly identify the young players and call their parents in for questioning. Each parent was issued a €50 fine for their child’s bad behavior. If they do not pay up in 60 days, the penalty can be raised to €500.
Murano, a town of just under 4,500 residents, doesn’t mess around when it comes to protecting public play spaces. Local ordinances enacted in 2019 restrict the playing of football, soccer, baseball, and other games on open spaces. To play, the only square (or plaza) available is San Bernardo. Now, the parents of those children are coming forward to tell their stories. They contend that Pino Signoretto square was wrongly included on the list of forbidden zones.
The frustration over the situation was summed up by the father of one of those children, Antonio Trampus.
“My son called me in tears. The police wouldn’t listen to reason. They could have called us parents and asked us to take our children home. Instead, they immediately took their names and addresses.” – Antonio Trampus
Local councillor Marco Gasparinetti weighed in on the issue, saying the police should be criticized for their disproportionate response. On that point, he asked why they would punish the parents like that.
“Were they scammers? Pickpockets? Drug dealers? No, they were the parents of [14] children.” – Marco Gasparinetti
Gasparinetti explained that a more preventative and educational approach would have been better.
“Wouldn’t that have been more educational? Common sense and a sense of priority were lacking.” – Marco Gasparinetti
The children’s parents have announced their intention to appeal the fines and discuss the issue with Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro. They argue that the enforcement of these rules should consider the context and intentions of children engaging in outdoor play.
Beyond pushback from parents and municipal figures, many community members spoke on behalf of giving kids the ability to play outside. Paolo Poggi remarked,
“Long live children who spend time outdoors.” – Paolo Poggi
… the place for rules, and a respect for rules but insist that there is a place for common sense and enforcement of them.
“The rules are sacrosanct, but common sense is needed. Children’s play experience must be preserved.” – Paolo Poggi