Chargers fan gets citation for throwing a football

Oct 14, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; General view of a referee flag on the field during the second half of the San Diego Chargers game against the Indianapolis Colts at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers won 19-9. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Did you know it was a city violation to throw a football in front of Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego? Yeah, neither did I.

From ESPN,

"A San Diego Chargers fan found himself in front of a traffic judge last week after he was cited before a game for breaking the city’s code against “launching a solid object” outside Qualcomm Stadium.Jesse Unger was approached by police in the parking lot as he tossed a football with fellow tailgaters before the Chargers hosted the Indianapolis Colts last month.An officer had told Unger to stop as he sought to enforce a rare rule in place at only three NFL stadiums, the 27-year-old Under told the U-T San Diego website."

Here is the official rule, as stated in the article as well.

"San Diego Municipal Code 59.0502 says pedestrians in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot can’t “intentionally throw, discharge, launch or spill any solid object (including footballs, baseballs, frisbees and other such devices) or liquid substance or otherwise cause subject or substance to be thrown, discharged, launched, spilled, or to become airborne.”"

It’s an odd rule for sure, and the fine was originally going to be $60, until Mr. Unger went online and saw it would be $280 instead. What’s even weirder is that this rule is in a few other NFL stadiums as well.

"It’s a mandate also in place at LP Field in Tennessee, Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and CenturyLink Field in Seattle, according to the U-T San Diego report."

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