It’s not uncommon to see a sign in a public park telling people to avoid a section of grass that’s being reseeded, or that things like football games, grilling, and bike riding are forbidden on the grass, but one town in New York has decided that simply sitting on the grass in one of its parks is a big no-no.

“Sitting or lying down on the landscaped and grass areas of the park is prohibited,” reads the rule for J. Walter Juckett Park in the village of Hudson Falls, about an hour north of Albany. “Lying down or standing on park benches is prohibited.”

Note that the rule does not forbid walking on the grass, merely parking your rear-end in some form on the grass.

If you’re caught sitting on the grass, you can be thrown out of the park and possibly face fines up to $250 or spend up to 15 days in jail. Repeat violators face fines of between $500 and $750. Those with three convictions in a five year period could also spend up to 60 days behind bars.

The new law also bans smoking, alcohol, potentially dangerous activities, and profanity in all village parks.

Since J. Walter Juckett Park is used for concerts and other public gatherings where sitting is a normal thing, the village says it won’t be enforcing the rules all the time.

“That’s not something we are going to enforce during concerts or other events,” explains the mayor to the Glen Falls Post Star. “People will still be able to sit on the grass and listen to concerts. The issue we have had is with loitering and people just hanging around on the grass. There are benches and places to sit.”

[via Reddit]

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