The playboy porn videosexplosive popularity of Pokémon Go got people off their asses in huge numbers, but the increased foot traffic -- and mess -- that came with them has opened the door to a legal kerfuffle in Milwaukee, Wis.
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance on Feb. 2 that places permit requirements on alternate reality games in public spaces. So if Niantic wants to have active PokeStops and Gyms in a Milwaukee park, for example, it would need to seek approval from the local government.
SEE ALSO: 7 things 'Pokémon Go' badly needs in 2017The issue first sprung up in July 2016, when Pokémon Golaunched. Larger-than-normal crowds turned up to chase Pokémon at Milwaukee's 138-acre Lake Park, and the resulting costs of enforcement and clean-up -- which were higher than normal -- fell to taxpayers.
The ordinance was introduced, then, to ensure that liability falls to the right parties. A permitting process gives the local government a mechanism for holding the ARG creator -- in this case, Niantic -- accountable when its game places an unnecessary cost on taxpayers.
According to the text of the ordinance, the large crowds in Lake Park last summer resulted in "increased litter and waste in the park, inadequate bathrooms to accommodate the high ratio of people, after-hours violations, enhanced security oversight, unauthorized vendors, significant daily traffic congestion, parking violations, trampled grass, and related concerns about sensitive flora and fauna areas."
You can view video evidence of the Lake Park crowds here and here as well as a Powerpoint doc presenting photographic evidence of the mess that was left behind.
The ordinance has been debated a number of times in Milwaukee County: twice by the Parks, Energy, and Environment Committee and twice -- including the most recent debate -- by the Board of Supervisors. You can find video from all but one of these meetings right here.
It's important to note that, although the ordinance received a "yes" vote in committee, it isn't yet the rule of law. It could still be vetoed at the executive level, though that could be overturned by a committee vote (they'll be meeting again on Feb. 16).
Even if you're not interested in Pokémon Go, the videos and legal documentation provide a fascinating peek into the inner workings of local government. It's definitely worth a look.
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