AMERICANS could be slapped with fines up to $100,000 depending on how they celebrated Independence Day.
Secret drones caught partygoers in the act over the holiday weekend, prompting officials to send them citations in the mail.
Police across California issued citations starting at $1,000 for setting off illegal fireworks on July 4.
State law prohibits any fireworks that are set off in the sky.
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services states that fireworks that explode, soar into the sky, or move on the ground uncontrollably are deemed illegal.
SLIPPERY SLOPE
Property owners who use illegal fireworks on their property face $1,500 fines.
The fines can rack up quickly as they increase per explosive.
Multiple cities across the state use drones with cameras to catch people setting off fireworks.
But rule breakers might not even know that they were issued a citation if they didn’t immediately spot the inconspicuous drones.
The fines were sent to property owners by mail in the week after the celebrations.
In rental properties, the property owner is liable for any fireworks displays conducted on their premises, regardless of whether tenants are responsible for those actions.
This means homeowners could be hit with a citation even if they weren’t at the house during the illegal activity.
Sacramento issues a $1,000 fine for the first firework, then $2,500 for the second, and $5,000 for each firework after that.
Lighting a firework on city property, like a park, brings the fine up to $10,000 each.
Sacramento police said there’s no limit to how many fines you can get.
Sacramento Fire Department Fire Marshal Jason Lee mentioned to NBC affiliate KCRA-TV that if numerous fireworks are set off at a single location, they can accumulate violations based on the number of fireworks used.
“So, it could be thousands of dollars per location.”
Illegal fireworks in California
Illegal fireworks in California include:
- Skyrockets
- Bottle rockets
- Roman candles
- Aerial shells
- Firecrackers
- Sparklers
- Other fireworks that explode, go into the air, or move on the ground in an uncontrollable manner
Source: Governor Gavin Newsom
Last summer, an illegal fireworks display in Elk Grove, a suburb of Sacramento, landed someone with a whopping fine of $100,000 after they were caught by the drones, KCRA reported at the time.
Jose Mendez, the code enforcement manager for the city, showed city officials the drone footage that revealed embers from the explosives falling onto the roofs of nearby houses.
“We’re prioritizing safety. This type of activity is just not something that we’re going to tolerate,” Mendez said at the time.
Elk Grove police didn’t immediately return The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
‘SERIOUS THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY’
This year, police in Riverside, which is about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles, sent out five drones to patrol the skies on the holiday and issued 65 citations, each carrying a $1,500 fine.
Riverside officer Ryan Railsback said they caught hundreds of violations this year, mostly on private property.
“It’s video evidence, that’s the main thing,” Railsback told ABC affiliate KABC.
“Before the city council changed the law, you had to visually see it, and it’s hard on the ground to see it, try to find it, and try to get eyes on it.”
In a press release, city officials reminded citizens that illegal fireworks have previously caused devastating wildfires in the area.
“Illegal fireworks, especially commercial-grade aerial types, pose a serious threat to public safety,” Riverside Fire Chief Steve McKinster said.
“They’re more than loud nuisances; they can cause devastating fires and life-changing injuries, putting homes, property, and lives at risk every year.”
Legal fireworks in California include sparklers, fountains, smokeballs, and generally anything that doesn’t leave the ground.
