Being on wrong side of fireworks law would bring civil penalties

By Pat Jenkins

The Dispatch

The Fourth of July is four months away, but the other shoe may be getting ready to drop in Pierce County's attempt to keep fireworks from being a nuisance on and around Independence Day.

County Council members are weighing whether to allow civil penalties for citizens in unincorporated parts of the county who violate rules governing when fireworks can be set off. Currently, violations are considered a criminal misdemeanor. Making them civil infractions would result in penalties similar in severity to parking tickets.

A proposed ordinance authorizing penalties would take effect June 1. So far, it’s being reviewed at the council’s committee level and isn’t scheduled for a public hearing.

If approved by the council, fines could be issued for persons who use fireworks between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m., except on July 4, when they’re allowed from 9 a.m. to midnight.

The dollar amount of fines hasn't been revealed.

The proposal comes from Councilwoman Connie Ladenburg, who sponsored county legislation last year to reduce the number of days that fireworks for personal use will eventually be allowed. Starting in 2018, the period will be four days – July 1 through 4. And they can be sold at non-tribal stands from June 28 to July 4.

Much shorter periods for fireworks’ use and sales were proposed by Ladenburg. She wanted personal use to be limited to July 4 alone and sales to be permitted July 1-4.

Ladenburg contends too many people and animals are victimized by the noise of fireworks. Misuse of fireworks also is the cause of injuries and accidental fires, and reducing their use and availability would improve the public's safety and welfare, according to Ladenburg.

But the majority of the council chose less severe restrictions after hearing from critics of Ladenburg's original proposal that it would be hard to enforce and would hurt civic groups that sell fireworks in fund-raisers to support their programs.

The new regulations that become effective in 2018, as well as the proposed fines that would take effect this year, apply only to unincorporated areas – those that aren't inside city or town limits. In addition, existing and pending rules for purchases and sales apply only to fireworks stands that are off tribal land.

Until next year, county rules governing the personal use of fireworks in conjunction with annual Independence Day celebrations are the same as state law. The latter allows fireworks to be purchased and used from June 28 to July 5.

In the Town of Eatonville, July 3-4 are the only dates that fireworks can be used legally.

Several towns and cities in Pierce County, as well as municipalities and counties, statewide restrict or ban fireworks.