Is Lawn Darts (Jarts) Discontinued? What Happened?

Lawn Darts (Jarts) were a popular backyard game consisting of large dart-like projectiles with weighted metal tips that players would throw at ground targets.

In 1987, father David Snow began a campaign against the dangerous toy when his daughter, 7-year-old Michelle, was hit in the head while kids were tossing them around. Estimates note that the jart hit Michelle with 23,000 pounds of pressure per square inch as it went through her skull. She died several days later.

The Ban: Spurred in part by Snow's campaign, the CPSC issued a federal ban on lawn darts with elongated tips in 1988. The specific prohibition covers any lawn dart with a rigid, weighted tip—whether metal or other hard materials. Modern lawn darts with soft, rounded plastic tips are technically legal but are fundamentally different products that don't carry the same risk profile.

In 1987, father David Snow began a campaign against the dangerous toy when his daughter, 7-year-old Michelle, was hit in the head while kids were tossing them around. Estimates note that the jart hit Michelle with 23,000 pounds of pressure per square inch as it went through her skull. She died several days later.

The danger of lawn darts didn't stop at America's borders. Canada also banned the product after reporting 55 serious injuries by 1989.

It remains illegal to sell, manufacture, or import the original-style weighted lawn darts in the United States. Penalties can reach $15,000 for violations.But even with these bans, lawn darts still caused their fair share of harm. In 1997, the CPSC had to reissue its notice that lawn darts were banned after a 7-year-old boy suffered a brain injury after a lawn dart pierced his skull. The CPSC acknowledged that the toy may still be hanging out in garages or thrift stores.