If you shot off fireworks on the Fourth of July, you probably checked to see if it was legal and if you had permission to do so where you live. Hopefully, anyway, as you’ll wish you had after this story.
A North Brunswick, New Jersey, homeowner is facing a summons and a bill for cleanup costs after continuing to launch fireworks on the Fourth of July despite a police warning, NJ 101.5 reported. Several residents of Beverly Avenue called police about the display. Officers responded and told the person setting off the fireworks to stop.
The resident kept going after the officers left, according to Mayor Francis Womak. The township has not released the homeowner’s identity. Womak said the person will be issued “appropriate complaints and summonses.”
Police will be reviewing video and photos taken from the resident’s home to determine whether they’re going to take further action or not. Township crews already worked to clear the fireworks debris from the roadway afterward. Womak said the responsible party will be held accountable for those cleanup costs, though he did not disclose what the cleanup cost the township.
Womak described the display as a quality-of-life issue that the township has taken seriously from the start. He said North Brunswick is committed to holding people accountable when they disregard the law and disrupt the community. No charges have been filed so far, and the resident has not publicly responded.
What Fireworks Are Actually Legal in New Jersey?
New Jersey permits far less than many residents assume. A 2017 law signed by Gov. Chris Christie lifted the state’s total ban and carved out an exemption for sparkling devices and novelties, which people 16 and older can buy and use. That list covers handheld and ground-based sparklers, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices, and trick noisemakers such as party poppers, snappers, and drop pops.
Everything else remains illegal. Explosive and aerial fireworks, including firecrackers, bottle rockets, sky rockets, and Roman candles, are prohibited without a permit, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Municipalities can layer their own ordinances on top of the state rules, restricting where and when even the legal devices can be used.
What Penalties Can a Fireworks Violation Carry?
Under New Jersey’s Explosives and Fireworks Act, using, discharging, or possessing illegal fireworks is a petty disorderly persons offense. That carries up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Selling fireworks or possessing them with intent to sell is a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The cleanup bill is separate from any summons. Womak said the township will pursue the resident for the cost of clearing the roadway, without saying what that figure is. There are still several questions at this point. Plus, the homeowner has not been identified, and the summonses have not been detailed. Lastly, police haven’t said what their review of the video and photos has produced, so this is very much an ongoing story.