Basketball net warnings foul, says Régis Labeaume

Quebec City has backed away from its threat to fine residents with basketball nets set up too close to the street.

Residents with the objectionable nets were given notice recently to push them back a few feet or face possible fines.

The move caused an uproar among citizens and led Mayor Régis Labeaume to briefly suspend his summer vacation and order a halt to the notices.

Charlesbourg resident Pascal Croteau received one of the notices last week.

He said his net's been in the same location for the past four summers without issue.

"I had to move it back onto my lawn so any machine or equipment that has to go in the street won't hit the ring," he said.

Croteau said with the hoop hanging over the grass of his front lawn meant the ball wouldn't bounce like it should.

"If it's the law, it's the law — but I find it a little bit extreme," he said.

Quebec City spokeswoman Wendy Whittom said the notices were handed out by a summer employee tasked with looking for potential safety hazards on streets.

Whittom said Labeaume has asked that no more notices be handed out for curbside basketball hoops.