'Pokémon Go' craze leads to new permit requirements for ARGs
The explosive 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.
The issue first sprung up in July 2016, when Pokémon Go launched. 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.
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
