Assemblymen Mayer and Moriarty

MAYER/MORIARTY BILL BANNING SALE OF HAZARDOUS
YO-YO WATERBALLS PASSES ASSEMBLY(TRENTON) -- The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee today approved legislation Assemblymen David R. Mayer and Paul D. Moriarty sponsored to ban the sale of "Yo-Yo Waterballs," a seemingly benign toy that has been blamed for harming hundreds of children nationwide.

"Yo-Yo Waterballs are a commercialized death threat to our children," said Mayer (D-Gloucester). "They are inherently dangerous and they should be banned."

The measure (A-428) would prohibit the sale of the toy state-wide. Yo-Yo Waterballs -- which also are sold under various other names -- are squishy toys on a bungee-cord string with a finger loop at the end. They can pose serious hazards to children. The toy -- which contains toxic liquids -- is flammable and can become wrapped around a child's neck, strangling him or her. In addition, serious eye injuries have been reported.

Mayer and Moriarty's pursuit of a ban was triggered by the advocacy of Tina Schreffler, a South Jersey woman whose 4-year-old daughter was nearly strangled by one of the toys. Consumer complaints about the toy have been so widespread that Toys R Us, Walgreeens, and 7-Eleven won't sell it.

In 2004, the national Consumer Product Safety Commission received more than 300 injury complaints about the Yo-Yo Waterball, and New Jersey had the fourth highest injury rate for the toy. Yo-Yo Waterballs are on the list of Top 10 Worst Toys and have been banned in Canada, Britain, France, Switzerland, and Australia.

"The Yo-Yo Waterball is easily accessible at convenience stores and toy outlets," said Moriarty (D-Gloucester). "We obviously cannot stop a toy manufacturer from producing substandard toys, but we can stop them from turning a profit in New Jersey and causing further harm to our children."

The measure passed 5 to 0. It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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