Thursday, July 09, 2009
Fireworks Enforcement Report
I thought folks would be interested in Police Chief Steve MacKinnon's report on the efforts of our Fireworks Task Force:
"This is the fourth year where a special Fireworks Detail was deployed to enforce illegal fireworks. From July 1st through the Fourth two teams made up of a fire fighter and police officer patrolled the city in unmarked police vehicles each evening attempting to locate fireworks violations. The teams reported only one fireworks-related call on Wednesday (1st) and Thursday (2nd) had no calls at all. There were 7 fireworks calls on Friday evening (3rd) and 42 fireworks calls on the Fourth. Most responses to calls or complaints resulted in the officers being unable to locate where the violation was. Based on past history, this is not unusual.
Of these calls the detail only cited persons in four separate incidents. In addition, there were multiple calls where fireworks were seized (and destroyed) but it was decided no enforcement action would be taken. During those calls the detail took the time to educate the residents about the safety and legal concerns.
This year’s detail found the workload was significantly lighter than in past years. It is unclear if this is the result of the poor economy, the information campaign that described the potential for a steep fine imposed, or the lack of a city fireworks display (where potential violators went to other cities where displays were available). For example, there were over 100 fireworks complaints last year on Fourth of July alone."
"This is the fourth year where a special Fireworks Detail was deployed to enforce illegal fireworks. From July 1st through the Fourth two teams made up of a fire fighter and police officer patrolled the city in unmarked police vehicles each evening attempting to locate fireworks violations. The teams reported only one fireworks-related call on Wednesday (1st) and Thursday (2nd) had no calls at all. There were 7 fireworks calls on Friday evening (3rd) and 42 fireworks calls on the Fourth. Most responses to calls or complaints resulted in the officers being unable to locate where the violation was. Based on past history, this is not unusual.
Of these calls the detail only cited persons in four separate incidents. In addition, there were multiple calls where fireworks were seized (and destroyed) but it was decided no enforcement action would be taken. During those calls the detail took the time to educate the residents about the safety and legal concerns.
This year’s detail found the workload was significantly lighter than in past years. It is unclear if this is the result of the poor economy, the information campaign that described the potential for a steep fine imposed, or the lack of a city fireworks display (where potential violators went to other cities where displays were available). For example, there were over 100 fireworks complaints last year on Fourth of July alone."
# posted by Wally Bobkiewicz @ 9:25 AM 
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Thank you for the report and the diligence of the SPPD but I feel certain the lack of fireworks this year was due to the economy. Folks just don't have the money to pay for fireworks when they're trying to find a way to pay for food. I'm serious; I'm watching the struggles of various friends and neighbors in Santa Paula...there are people who are having a very rough time of it, many months now into the "recession." Fireworks are expensive.
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# posted by 
: Friday, July 10, 2009 9:03:00 PM
: Friday, July 10, 2009 9:03:00 PM << Home
