`AIDING, ABETTING' FIREWORKS LAW CONSIDERED BY LANCASTER.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- In a bid to crack down on illegal fireworks, Lancaster officials are considering enacting a law that will let deputies cite people watching those actually lighting off the pyrotechnics.

The proposed ordinance, which will be considered by the City Council tonight, would make it a misdemeanor to ``aid and abet'' illegal fireworks displays, just as police can cite spectators at illegal street races. Those cited could face fines of up to $1,000 and as much as six months in jail.

Although ``safe and sane'' fireworks are not legal in Lancaster, the ``aid and abet'' ordinance would not target people using those -- just people shooting off skyrockets, firecrackers and other devices that fly or explode, which the state defines as dangerous fireworks.

``The problem is with the already dangerous illegal fireworks,'' said Councilman Ron Smith. ``This gives law enforcement tools they need to stop a lot of that.''

The use of illegal fireworks is draining time and money for public-safety agencies in the Antelope Valley, backers of the ordinance said. Often, officials say, deputies who roll up at a home where skyrockets are being shot off find a crowd of people but all say somebody else was doing the shooting.

This past Fourth of July holiday, the Los Angeles County Fire Department spent $140,000 on additional staffing and equipment. The department handled 113 fireworks-related calls that night, said Assistant Fire Chief Mark Bennett.

In one incident, Bennett said, he and a fire crew saw a man set his own house on fire by firing off skyrockets out of his trash can. The man, oblivious to the fire he just started, argued with firefighters who wanted to seize the illegal materials.

``He said he had a right to do this (set off the fireworks),'' Bennett said. ``I told him to turn around and look at his house.''

Capt. Carl Deeley, commander of the Lancaster sheriff's station, said he had a patrol of eight deputies and a sergeant that worked just fireworks calls on July 4.

``They were going nonstop, past midnight,'' Deeley said. ``They barely made a dent in the problem.''

Both Lancaster and Palmdale stepped up their public information campaigns in regards to the issue this past holiday, including putting information on fireworks dangers in their newsletters and promoting their respective free holiday fireworks shows as better alternatives. ``Safe and sane'' fireworks are legal in Palmdale.

``This is not going to get better until the community gets engaged and gets outraged,'' said Assistant City Manager Mark Bozigian. ``They need to take ownership of their community.''

Officials noted that while the aiding and betting provisions would be classified as misdemeanors, possession of any amount of illegal fireworks over the size of an M-80 explosive can be prosecuted as a felony, punishable by a state prison term. Altering ``safe and sane'' fireworks can also be prosecuted as a felony, sheriff's officials said.

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Lancaster sheriff's Capt. Carl Deeley, Lancaster Assistant City Manager Mark Bozigian and Assistant Fire Chief Mark Bennett address members of the media during a meeting at City Hall on Monday to discuss a proposed law designed to crack down on the illegal use of fireworks.

(2 -- color) Mark Bozigian

Assistant city manager

(3) From left, Lancaster sheriff's Capt. Carl Deeley, Lancaster Assistant City Manager Mark Bozigian and Assistant Fire Chief Mark Bennett discuss a proposed fireworks ordinance.

Alex Collins/ Special to the Daily News