New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu has signed Senate Bill 327, which provides penalties for crimes committed against sports officials to include first- or second-degree assault, criminal threatening, and stalking.
As reported by the Portsmouth Herald, offenders would be subject to the punishment prescribed for the underlying offense, as well as a fine of up to $1,000 and a prohibition from attending a sporting event in the state for up to a year for a first offense. Multiple offenses could trigger a lifetime ban.
The new law, signed Friday, applies to any “participant,” including spectators, coaches, administrators or players at an amateur or professional athletic contest in the state, Margie Cullen of the Herald reported.
“Sports are emotional, and I think sometimes people forget that they're trying their best as well,” said Dave Morissette, athletic director for St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover. “All of us, administrators, coaches, kids and parents can do a lot better job being nicer to officials, and we all want to work on that and be the best we possibly can be.”
Aaron Abood, athletic director for Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, said his school has a parent and spectator code of conduct, and that Winnacunnet has banned spectators from the grounds before for using improper language or acting inappropriately toward an official.
“I would think we would continue with that,” Abood said, when asked about enforcement of the new law. “Maybe we post some of these things on signs outside or in the gym. But certainly, if we ever were to have an assault, we would, you know, look to the police.”
The prime sponsor of the bill, senator Lou D'Allesandro of Manchester, said enforcement will need to be worked out, but that it’s an “important first step.”
“It was sorely needed, and it’s a way to deal with a problem that’s manifesting itself all over the country, and it’s becoming very dangerous,” D’Allesandro said, as reported by the Herald. “We gave them a portion of a statute that would allow them to enforce it, so we’re well on our way to making good things happen.”
