Springfield, IL (My Sportsbook) - The Illinois Senate passed a bill on Friday stating that harsher penalties will be enforced for spectators who run onto fields and attack players and officials during games. The bill, which was a response to two separate attacks in the past year on a coach and an umpire at Chicago White Sox games, was passed by a unanimous 57-0 vote and must now go to the House. If the proposal goes through, offenders who run onto the field will be charged a minimum of $1,000 for battery and could also face up to one year in jail for trespassing on a playing field. Supporters of the bill are hopeful that children will be subjected to less violence at games and also that it will discourage any further incidents at U.S. Cellular Field, which is also the site of the 2003 All-Star game. The bill would go into effect for all levels of competition, including amateur sports. |
