Illegal Fireworks Shows (Rant)

[Cogswel_Cogs]

This is one of the dryest ealrly summers i remember here in NY. I am not a big firework hater, I will watch others throw away their money. But I got a feeling there are going to be more than usual amounts of fires.

 

[plutotek]

I agree! I live in Michigan where a lot of fireworks are illegal. But the Indiana border is less than an hour away, and they sell all sorts of fireworks there. The powers that be here have finally realised that all they have done by banning the bigger fireworks is loose money to Indiana. So by this time next year we should be able to get the good stuff here too!

There is actually a story in this mornings paper with a cop saying chasing down illegal fireworks is pretty low on their priority list. He pretty much said they will only do it if they have nothing else to do.

My dogs hate the noise too. I keep mine inside, and leave some music or the tv on. We have also gone as far as to get a mild sedative from the vet to help keep her calm. You won't have much luck keeping other people from setting off fireworks, but you can help your pets deal with it a bit better.

I have always been amazed, and annoyed, by the people that feel it's okay to disregard the law, as well as the safety and comfort of others, for their own personal enjoyment.

Our PD/FD used to have the same attitude, right up until the lawsuit that changed their perspective. Yes, if they get a singular complaint about ILLEGAL activity, then it doesn't rank as high as multiple neighbors complaining about the scofflaw down the street. Heavy fines and, occasionally, jail time have served to reduce the pre- and post-holiday offenses, making it one day that is the worst, not several. Additionally, when responding to calls, they have confiscated any and all unused explosives, which is painful when people spend $400-$600 for the fireworks.

 

[DawnCt1]

I guess I'm the odd man out in that I like the sound of firecrackers surrounding the 4th. It's sort of like Christmas music around Christmas time - a reminder of the holiday to come. When I start to hear the firecrackers going off, I start thinking about fun times with family, BBQ's, the small town parade back where I grew up, watermelon eating contests. It only goes on for a few days

I agree. What is illegal is some states, is perfectly legal in others. We have certain legal fireworks in Ct. RI and New Hampshire. I don't know what is legal or not in Massachusetts, although from the recent "ads" on the radio, not much.

 

[bicker]

Massachusetts Fireworks Laws

CONSUMER FIREWORKS
Specifically Permitted None
Specifically Prohibited Firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, flares, candles, bombs, sparklers, wheels, colored fire, fountains, mines, and serpents.

http://www.fireworks.com/fireworks_laws/laws_massachusetts.asp

 

[maxiesmom]

I have always been amazed, and annoyed, by the people that feel it's okay to disregard the law, as well as the safety and comfort of others, for their own personal enjoyment.

Let me say in my own defense, I have never made a fireworks run to Indiana. I don't have to enough people around here do it so that you can see them without having to even seek them out. Besides, I'm too cheap to pay a few hundered dollars for fireworks. The dollar store ones are good enough.

 

[clh2]

I do not mind some fireworks either on the 3rd or the 4th. We live in the country, and many people even get permits to put on "big shows".

My dog can't stand the noise. We do not leave him home alone these nights.

Now - eventhough I don't mind a few fireworks - I still have issues. It is not necessary to set of fireworks each and every night for 2 weeks before and two weeks after the 4th. AND, please just shoot off your firworks from 9:15 pm and stop by midnight.

One year - we had neighbors that shot off 1 single firework every 15 minutes all night long. And I had to work the next day.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

My poor dog..she is probably going to have a heart attack from all of this. Rain and thunder make her pant and freak out but this is 10x WORSE.
We even had to give her medication to calm her.

Our neighbor loves to shoot them off 2 days before, and keep doing it ALL NIGHT for a week until they run out.
Here is an idea: DON'T BUY SO MANY.

 

[Colleen27]

I agree! I live in Michigan where a lot of fireworks are illegal. But the Indiana border is less than an hour away, and they sell all sorts of fireworks there. The powers that be here have finally realised that all they have done by banning the bigger fireworks is loose money to Indiana. So by this time next year we should be able to get the good stuff here too!

There is actually a story in this mornings paper with a cop saying chasing down illegal fireworks is pretty low on their priority list. He pretty much said they will only do it if they have nothing else to do.

My dogs hate the noise too. I keep mine inside, and leave some music or the tv on. We have also gone as far as to get a mild sedative from the vet to help keep her calm. You won't have much luck keeping other people from setting off fireworks, but you can help your pets deal with it a bit better.

It is pretty much the same in my part of Michigan. We have a local police officer in the neighborhood who has said that unless it is a situation of drunks or kids/teens setting off fireworks, he's not inclined to do much if he gets a call about an illegal display. He'll issue a warning, of course, but no fine, so really all that happens is the person setting them off gets a heads-up that someone in the neighborhood has a problem with it.

We're going to the big display in our old town tonight so I won't know if anyone is setting anything off here, but we'll be home on the 4th and I assume the next door neighbor will put on a little show for the neighborhood kids. He did that last year, and had about 20 kids and nearly that many parents on his porch watching while he set off a mix of legal and tamer illegal fireworks our in our seldom-traveled little street.

My dog isn't great with the noise, but if we take her up to DS's room where she sleeps in his doorless closet-turned-playspace and put on the ceiling fan, she calms down fairly well. His room is upstairs, facing away from the street, and has new windows so it is about the quietest place for her to be.

 

[pixiefairy]

I don't mind fireworks as long as the people setting them off aren't a) under 18 or b) drunk and c)it's before 10 or so. I love fireworks...I love to watch them, the noise doesn't bother me so much and the smell brings back many happy memories of 4th of July from childhood. A cousin of mine sells fireworks, knows how to use them and creates a safe display for our family's picnic every year.

That being said...I was woken up at 2 am (along with my 3 year old) because of some people two doors down shooting off fireworks not in front of the house they were at, but in front of mine. I watched for a bit to determine if they were our neighbors, and long enough to see that they were drinking and on top of that being really really loud. I called our non emergency number and watched to see if or when the officer ever showed up. It took him about a half an hour...and he was smart enough to park around the corner and then walk over so that they didn't try to run away. He had some words with them, they went inside..and a few minutes later a car started and the extra people left. By 3...it was quiet again and my son went back to sleep.

If you are going to shoot off fireworks, use common sense and be safe and don't let your little kids set them off because it's "cute".

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I guess I'm the odd man out in that I like the sound of firecrackers surrounding the 4th. It's sort of like Christmas music around Christmas time - a reminder of the holiday to come. When I start to hear the firecrackers going off, I start thinking about fun times with family, BBQ's, the small town parade back where I grew up, watermelon eating contests. It only goes on for a few days

I agree! I like them.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We are going through this right now.

It's not the noise that I object to - it's that my idiot neighbor shoots some time of fireworks off in his backyard and the always land in my (and other neighbors) yards. So far we have had a solar cover and regular cover for our pool get holes in them and we've had several land on our roof.

We tried asking him not to do this but he refused.

Last time we finally called the police - now it's like the Hatfield and the McCoys. I can hardly wait for tomorrow night.

 

[FireDancer]

I don't mind the fireworks, legal or not. They are technically illegal here but I like hearing them and seeing them. I'm up late anyway so the noise doesn't bother me and it has pretty much been a staple in this area since I was a little kid so it would almost seem like something is missing without them. If someone else wants to blow themselves up with fireworks let them and chalk it up to good old Darwinism.

Besides, what better way to celebrate the birth of your country then by taking a small chunk out of it?

 

[LisaNJ25]

.

We live very close to the PA border where it is legal for NJ residents to buy fireworks - but it is illegal for them to bring them into NJ. It is illegal for PA residents to buy fireworks in PA, but they can sell them to out of state residents whether they are illegal in their home state or not. How's that for logic?

yep.. and the jersey police will be out in full force pulling those over crossing back in NJ this weekend.

 

[golfgal]

yep.. and the jersey police will be out in full force pulling those over crossing back in NJ this weekend.

Funny. We were talking about going to the beach today and there is a nice beach just on the other side of the border in WI that we like but we ruled that out because the police do "spot" checks for fireworks coming back into MN and we just didn't want to deal with that.

 

[plutotek]

I'll be giving the local 'troublemakers' advanced warning that if there is a repeat performance tonight, the police will be receiving a call. My other neighbors are in agreement as well, especially when we've gone out and found the cars and lawn littered w/their aerial crap. I think we'll get a slightly better response as these neighbors are known to the cops for disturbance complaints.

WA cops did the same thing as the NJ cops w/people coming over the border for OR. Did my heart good.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

It's sad some people aren't more careful. We enjoy fireworks but it really scares me how irresponsible some people are.

I also think half the problem is the confusing laws. I have bought many, many fireworks in AL but this county by county or we can sell it to you but you can't shoot it off laws make the whole thing more confusing.

 

[chager]

I know the neighbors are going to do fireworks and as long as they are being smart it isn't a big deal if they only do it the couple days around the holiday. Of course if they blow themself up..oh well. My dogs however totally freak! What I have found to work is putting them in the bedroom farthest from the activities and either turning the radio or tv up somewhat loud. I also give them a chew toy. This seems to work well for them. Their anxiety level decreases significantly. That is if we are not going to be home. If we are home then we put on a movie and turn it up! Lol

 

[bballmom56]

yep.. and the jersey police will be out in full force pulling those over crossing back in NJ this weekend.

I can only hope that they get my neighbor, but I'm sure he is well stocked anyway.

What I have found to work is putting them in the bedroom farthest from the activities and either turning the radio or tv up somewhat loud. If we are home then we put on a movie and turn it up! Lol

Hmmm, maybe I should try that with the horses! It would make for quite a cozy night in the house - think they would like the Disney movie Run Appaloosa Run? Nah, got a full thoroughbred and 2 half thoroughbreds. Ah Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit? Seabiscuit? National Velvet? LOL, I'll have to ask them!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

They just legalized fireworks in Rhode Island this past week so I knew that this weekend was going to be full of amateur shows.

Little did I know that someone would put on a 2 hour show right near my house at 3AM this morning. My cat is terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms and I could not sleep through the noise so I was not pleased.

 

[Jennasis]

I can only hope that they get my neighbor, but I'm sure he is well stocked anyway.



Hmmm, maybe I should try that with the horses! It would make for quite a cozy night in the house - think they would like the Disney movie Run Appaloosa Run? Nah, got a full thoroughbred and 2 half thoroughbreds. Ah Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit? Seabiscuit? National Velvet? LOL, I'll have to ask them!

You wanna borrow my copy of The Horse In The Grey Flannel Suit? My summer campers LOVE that one. It's my favorite live action Disney movie of all time.

I'm telling ya, you gotta move to the country. My closest neighbors are a 1/4 mile away and none of them "do" fireworks.