FIREWORKS SAFETY LAW PROPOSED IN COUNCIL LANCASTER COULD CITE SPECTATORS IF ENACTED.Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer LANCASTER -- To crack down on illegal fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to , City Councilman Ron Smith Ron Smith may refer to:
Noting that the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley looks like a ``war zone'' on July Fourth from people shooting off skyrockets and other illegal imports from outside California, Smith proposed making it a misdemeanor to ``aid and abet'' illegal fireworks displays -- just as police can cite spectators at illegal street races. ``The problem is on July 4, the Fire Department and Sheriff's Department are going from place to place. You see fireworks going up. Who do you arrest, cite or bust or collapse from the effort; - used in phrases expressing determination to do something; as, Oregon or bust, meaning "We will get to Oregon or die trying." s> See also: bust ? You can't do anything. You didn't see who lit it,'' said Smith, a former sheriff's deputy. ``It's very problematic to try to get people in the act.'' Smith said at a City Hall press conference Tuesday that he will ask the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would contain an ``aiding and abetting'' section similar to that in a state anti-street racing law that allows authorities to cite spectators as well as drivers. The proposal would cover what the state defines as dangerous fireworks, not ``safe and sane'' fireworks -- those that don't fly or explode. ``This ordinance will not be crafted to get Mom and Dad doing sparklers,'' Smith said. Fireworks of any kind are illegal in Lancaster and in the unincorporated areas In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality. To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, i.e., a city or town with its own government. of L.A. County. Palmdale allows the sale of ``safe and sane'' fireworks. A violation would be considered a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine up to $1,000 and six months in jail. Smith said the city of Oakland has levels of fines, with the first offense set at $500, the second at $2,500, and the third at $5,000. Los Angeles County Fire Department Not to be confused with Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including the City of La Inspector Jason Hurd said firefighters confiscate To expropriate private property for public use without compensating the owner under the authority of the Police Power of the government. To seize property. When property is confiscated it is transferred from private to public use, usually for reasons such as illegal fireworks but find it hard to pinpoint the violators. ``As soon as you drive up, they stop. Even at a distance you can't tell who's setting it off,'' Hurd said. Hurd said there were 184 fireworks-related fires or illegal uses of fireworks this past July Fourth in the Antelope Valley, 113 of them in Lancaster and surrounding unincorporated areas. The year before, there were 400 incidents. Hurd said the proposed ordinance could act as a deterrent. ``It might scare off Verb 1. scare off - cause to lose courage; "dashed by the refusal" daunt, frighten away, frighten off, scare away, pall, scare, dash intimidate, restrain - to compel or deter by or as if by threats people who are on the border who think, If they can't catch me I'm good to go,'' Hurd said. Palmdale also has been wrestling with the fireworks issue. The Palmdale council decided last week against placing a fireworks measure on the ballot that would have let voters decide whether the city should ban ``safe and sane'' fireworks. Critics of the measure said a vote on banning ``safe and sane'' fireworks would do nothing to stop illegal fireworks. Palmdale officials said the city spent more than $14,000 on overtime July Fourth for deputies who patrolled for people shooting skyrockets and other illegal fireworks. They cited 76 people for misdemeanor fireworks possession and related offenses. karen.maeshiro@dailynews.com (661) 267-5744 |
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