OT - Are fireworks legal in your state?

[thegrimdwarf]

And by that, I mean, legal for civilians to purchase and light? And if they are legal, do you set some off?

They are legal here in New Hampshire, but not in Massachusetts, which is just south of us. I live just over the MA/NH line, and we have a HUGE fireworks store here in town. We drove by yesterday, and there was a line of people out the door and a whole bunch of MA plates in the lot, lol. There were also a mess of MA Staties on the interstate, so I'm not real sure how many of the MA residents made it home with their contraband.

We don't buy or set off fireworks here, even though it's entirely legal. I just think some things are best left to pros.

 

[dopey67]

You are correct they are not legal in Mass and the cop can't pull you over just because he thinks you bought fireworks. So many many make it back into the state.

 

[jlparedes]

They are legal in some counties in California and not in others. However, Gov. Arnold has requested people not buy them this year due to the fires going on. Of course that was only a request.

 

[nessz79]

It's county to county here in FL. I'm not sure what defines fireworks but we are allowed to have those little kits they sell at Wal-Mart...you know the little sparklers and things you do in your driveway.

I think in our county you can't buy fireworks, but you can use them...something really strange like that. So you have to go over the county line, buy them there, bring them back, etc. We have tons of neighbors that set off big fireworks and never get in trouble, but we live in a rural part of town.

 

[AuroraBeauty]

Fireworks are illegal in TX and AZ but not in NM, so lots of people go to NM to buy fireworks. Unlike in MA, cops in Texas and AZ will stop people as they come over the state line. They set up road blocks, just like DUI ones. Every car is stopped and you are asked if you have any fireworks. Fines are HUGE!!!

Not worth it, IMHO.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Growing up here in NJ they are not legal, but that doesn't stop EVERYONE AROUND from buying them and setting them off. I hate them, I agree, leave it up to the pros - and a friend of mine agrees too - to bad he agreed to late and now his nick name is DEAD EYE - can ya guess why??????

 

[princessmom29]

It is county to county here. Legal in this county, but not inside the city limits in most cities here. We live in the county and it is pretty rural so most ppl use them. Never had a problem.

 

[Goofy'slady]

uhm not sure, I think certain ones might be legal cuz they sell certain ones in the Wal-Mart's and Target's and even some side of the road stands. My husband bought some one year but I don't think their the same kind the professionals use.

T.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Yes, here in Mississippi we legally buy and use fireworks every 4th of July & New Years Eve.

I love the 500 gm cake type fireworks and the quad artillery shells. They are my absolute favorites.

As a matter of fact we went out today and started buying some for our party on the 4th.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

It is county to county here. Legal in this county, but not inside the city limits in most cities here. We live in the county and it is pretty rural so most ppl use them. Never had a problem.

Actually, I think they are legal in most of Alabama. I have not heard of it not being legal in all of Alabama. We might occassionally buy a few sparkles or bottle rockets, but we don't waste money on most of that stuff. I might spend $3 to $5 once every couple of years, depending on if DH can beg me long enough. My grandfather would buy them when I was younger and I was afraid of them, so he would give them to the teenage boys in the neighborhood.

I live in AL close to the GA line and they weren't legal in GA until last year and they aren't legal in most areas of GA, but many people still come here to buy them. I don't think the police would do anything about it anyway.

This reminds me of all the commercials for the fireworks places in town, it is kinds like the new toy commercials before Christmas there are so many

Suzanne

 

[jack hannah bananah]

THey are legal to buy here in Ohio, but not to set off. If you buy them, you have to declare where (out of state) you will be setting them off. However, no one gets in trouble for setting them off around the 4th. The police will, however, stop by and warn you if you are setting them other times of the year or if you are setting them off really late (2 am). Rarely have I heard of someone getting fined or worse for setting them off. Usually this is only for people being stupid and setting them off in the city or a small neighborhood.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Certain ones are legal in North Carolina. We can buy them in the grocery stores, Wallyworld and on the side of the road. Of course, many people set of the illegal ones all the time. I wish they wouldn't this year since we are having such a bad drought.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Growing up in the SF Bay Area (in the 70s), fireworks were legal. Everyone on our street would come out and set them off together. They haven't been legal in this area for many year.

The are legal in Fresno County and many organization sell them as fundraisers. My mom owns a house in Fresno County (inherited from my Grandma and hasn't decided what to do with it yet). The house sits vacant most of the time but we all like to go there for the 4th and do fireworks.

We are very responsible about it. The house has a huge concrete driveway and we set them off right in the middle, away from the house, plants and trees. Once finished, they are placed immediately in a bucket of water to make sure they're out completely.

Many of the cities in California aren't even going to have their professional displays this year because of fire danger. It's not even comfortable to be outside for long because your lungs just fill with smoke.

 

[kldmom2000]

I'm from MA and I get so nervous around the 4th because people all over our development are lighting them off and the houses/trees are in such close proximity.... they do it from their backyards so as to try to avoid the police but they're putting neighbor's homes (and mine) in danger because they should really be doing it in an open area

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Certain ones are legal in North Carolina. We can buy them in the grocery stores, Wallyworld and on the side of the road. Of course, many people set of the illegal ones all the time. I wish they wouldn't this year since we are having such a bad drought.

I have to agree, I really wish they wouldn't be allowed to sell them with so much of the country being in a drought. I even noticed when we were at WDW they were wetting down all of the rootops before Wishes. I don't know if they do this all the time, but they were 3 weeks ago, cause I got a good shower coming out of Columbia Harbour House. I thought it was raining, but was assured that it wasn't.

Suzanne

 

[Mschissl]

I live in the Twin Cities, MN and certain types are legal. Basically anything that shoots up in the air is illegal. But snakes, sparklers, all the weak stuff is legal. However, a lot of states around us have more lenient laws where anything goes, so you just go across the border buy them there and hope not to get caught on the way home, because obvisously they will fine you and also take your contraband.

 

[pyrxtc]

You are correct they are not legal in Mass and the cop can't pull you over just because he thinks you bought fireworks. So many many make it back into the state.

Are you kidding me?? Cops will set up road blocks and can search your car if they think you just bought fireworks and are bringing them back to MA to light off. I've seen it happen. Huge trouble for bringing them across state lines with intent.

 

[AngelBabyJana]

Fireworks are illegal in TX and AZ but not in NM, so lots of people go to NM to buy fireworks. Unlike in MA, cops in Texas and AZ will stop people as they come over the state line. They set up road blocks, just like DUI ones. Every car is stopped and you are asked if you have any fireworks. Fines are HUGE!!!

Not worth it, IMHO.

We live in Houston Texas, and we are allowed to do fireworks here. You aren't allowed to do any within the city limits, but we live just outside the city limits. So it is not illegal in all of Texas. Bottle rockets are banned, but that is the only thing. We have firework stands all over the place selling fireworks.

Personally we choose not to do fireworks ourselves (to dangerous with little ones), but we always go to one of the big firework displays (usually the one in Baytown).

Honestly it gets kind of annoying - we live across the street from an elementary school, and so many people go there to set fireworks off. The next day our yard & pool are covered with debris from it.

 

[nikandboys]

In Wisconsin, its based on community. If your in the country anything goes pretty much. But each community has limits, some larger communities ban everything including sparklers and others you can do anything that doesn't "shoot" in the air. We used to do fountains etc... but no longer. Hubby now works part time for big firworks company here and set off BIG shows.

 

[jennifer293]

I wanna say in the county I live in it is legal but in the city limits it is not, but we have 2 or 3 HUGE fireworks superstores that sell year round and of course the little tents set up on every block this time fo the year. We never buy them because they scare the poo out of my dog.