Maryland officials weigh whether Pokemon Go is a public safety hazard

Maryland's political leaders gather every August to discuss the most pressing issues in governance; this year Pokemon Go is on the agenda.

The augmented reality game that has sent people exploring neighborhoods, congregating in public places and distractedly "hunting" digital creatures also creates a public policy conundrum for local governments. Armed robbers have preyed on preoccupied Pokemon hunters. In Baltimore, an engrossed player sideswiped a parked police cruiser while staring at his cell phone.

"There's an awful lot of questions that have burst on the scene about this game and the trend that it represents," said Michael Sanderson, executive director of the Maryland Association of Counties. "There's a real public policy dimension here. What does it mean for your liability? What does it mean for public safety?"

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