MERCED (KMJ) — Illegal fireworks in the Merced and Visalia will be targeted as part of a campaign to snuff out their threat ahead of the 4th of July.
With a month to go until Independence Day, officials in Merced announced Monday fines as high as $2,000, as well as the threat of criminal prosecution.
“We had a call from our city council to enforce our ordinance and we’re going to be doing that,” explained the city’s Mike Conway.
Conway warned of serious consequences if citizens are caught with the contraband.
“Our switchboards get overloaded on the 4th of July and we’re going to set up a special phone number and phone bank where people can call that number to report illegal fireworks.”
That information will then be passed to teams on patrol throughout Merced.
In Visalia, officials there have also said enforcement patrols will be on duty Independence Day evening.
“We are looking to utilize technology this year by linking complaints to a mapping system so our patrols have a better idea where the calls are coming from and allow more perpetrators to be caught,” explained Fire Chief Doug McBee in a statement to KMJ News.
City officials added that they will also be linking complaints to a map of the area, in order to pinpoint specific parts of the city to focus on.
Cal Fire has stated that only fireworks with the “Safe and Sane” logo are allowed to be sold in California. In general, if a firework leaves the ground then it is considered illegal.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
