PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Phoenix police will have new enforcement powers this Fourth of July under ordinances passed by the city council this month that tighten rules on fireworks and increase penalties for violations.<\/p>\n
Police can now seize illegal fireworks on the spot, and violators could face fines of up to $2,500. Repeat offenders could face jail time.<\/p>\n
The city will still allow fireworks that don\u2019t shoot into the sky, like sparklers.<\/p>\n
The city council passed the new fireworks ordinances 7-0 ahead of Independence Day. The changes ban fireworks within 1 mile of nature preserves and allow the city to add parks and other areas to the restricted zones depending on fire restrictions in place at the time.<\/p>\n
Where fireworks are banned<\/p>\n
All fireworks are banned within 1 mile of nature preserves<\/a>. The restrictions also cover certain parks and other city-owned property. The city has released an interactive map showing where fireworks can and cannot be used.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the things that really concerns me is we get a lot of comments from fireworks around the preserves and in July those preserves can be like tinderboxes so that does frighten me,\u201d said Debra Stark, a Phoenix City Council member<\/a>.<\/p>\n Enforcement changes<\/p>\n Phoenix police can now seize illegal fireworks on the spot under the new ordinances.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are probably going to lead with a civil fine first and then the city prosecutor will have the ability to look up repeat offenders,\u201d said Brian Rimsza, a Phoenix police lieutenant.<\/p>\n \u201cThe plan is not to go out and arrest people lighting up fireworks,\u201d Rimsza said.<\/p>\n The city said the changes are to help with wildfire prevention, noise from illegal fireworks and poor air quality when a large number of fireworks are set off during holidays.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to say that it seems like every Jan. 1 I get inundated with calls from residents complaining about fireworks,\u201d Stark said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hear so much from our community regarding fireworks,\u201d said Kesha Hodge Washington, vice mayor<\/a>.<\/p>\n For the city\u2019s interactive firework map, click or tap here<\/a>.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n