PVT PLT OF A HOT AIR BALLOON LANDED ON A CITY STREET WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE CITY GOV RESULTING IN A POLICE OFFICER DETAINING THE RPTR IN PACKING UP THE BALLOON AND REMOVING IT FROM THE STREET.

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ON NOV/SAT/97; AT APPROX XX00 HRS I BEGAN A ROUTINE FLT FROM THE MARKETPLACE SHOPPING CTR HERE IN BAKERSFIELD IN HOT AIR BALLOON. THE FLT WAS A PROMOTIONAL. THE FIRST LEG OF THE FLT INCLUDED AN OFFICIAL AND HIS WIFE AS PAX. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF THE OFFICIAL SAID THAT HE NEEDED TO SET DOWN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS HE HAD ANOTHER FUNCTION TO ATTEND. WE FLEW APPROX 15 MINS THEN SET DOWN ON THE MEDIAN OF A CITY STREET; LET THE PAX OUT; THEN LIFTED OFF AGAIN. THIS SECOND LEG OF THE FLT BEGAN AT APPROX XX20 HRS; ASCENDING TO 1100 FT. AFTER 45 MINS OF FLT TIME; AT VARIOUS ALTS; MOVING IN CIRCLES 3-5 BLOCKS FROM THE MARKETPLACE I FELT THAT THE WINDS WOULD NOT MOVE THE CRAFT TO THE POTENTIAL LNDG SITE. I DISCOVERED A WIDE ROAD ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN. IT IS UNENCUMBERED BY TREES AND PWR LINES AND SAFE FOR A BALLOON LNDG. THE GND CREW WAS RADIOED AND A SAFE LNDG OCCURRED. APPROX 10 MINS AFTER LNDG A LCL POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED AT THE SITE AND BEGAN TO ACCUSE ME OF OBSTRUCTING 'HIS' STREET AND CREATING AN ACCIDENT. HE DETAINED THE CREW AND I AND PREVENTED US FROM BAGGING THE ENVELOPE AND PUTTING THE ENVELOPE AND BASKET INTO THE TRAILER CAUSING ME TO BE CONCERNED FOR THE ACFT AND THE PUBLIC AS THEY BEGAN TO WATCH THE DIALOG BTWN THE OFFICER AND MYSELF. THIS IS A GENERAL LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON THE PART OF LCL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE OFFICIALS CONCERNING THEIR ROLE IN DEALING WITH ACFT; ESPECIALLY HOT AIR BALLOONS. SINCE THE BALLOONS ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE WIND AND LNDG SPOTS THAT ARE SOFT MAY INCLUDE VACANT FIELDS; ROADSIDE SHOULDERS AND PARKING LOTS; IT IS REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT A PLT WOULD CHOOSE ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS RATHER THAN TRYING TO FLY BEYOND FUEL SAFETY MARGIN WHEN FLYING IN AND AROUND URBAN AREAS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OF ANY KIND; NO DAMAGE TO PROPERTY; THE BALLOON HAD MORE THEN SUFFICIENT FUEL -- THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE FAA AVIATION SAFETY DIVISION MIGHT SPEND TIME WITH LCL PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL TO INFORM THEM OF THE BALLOON PROCS AND SAFE OPS. THIS WOULD HELP PREVENT UNNECESSARY POLICE AND FIRE RESPONSE AND REACTION TO WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS 'ILLEGAL BALLOON FLTS AND LNDG.'