By Christopher Kahagen
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
WAUKESHA, Wis. — Fourth of July marks a time for parties, celebrations and large gatherings. It also marks a time when illegal fireworks are used.
With the festive holiday approaching on Monday, Waukesha Police Chief Russell Jack wants to make sure everyone in the City of Waukesha understands one thing: “I want to get the message across that we need people to follow the ordinance,” Jack said. “It’s in place for a reason.” According to the regulation on fireworks ordinance, no person shall sell, expose, offer for sale, use, keep, discharge or explode any fireworks.
The ordinance on the city’s website defines what fireworks are and Jack encouraged anyone thinking about shooting off fireworks to read the document.
The document says fireworks are anything manufactured, processed or packaged for exploding, emitting sparks or combustion that does not have another common use. Among them include firecrackers, sparklers, sky rockets and any fireworks that contain an explosive or flammable compound.
There are exceptions to the ordinance. Sparklers are allowed as long as they do not exceed 36 inches in length and.25 inches in outside diameter.
Devices that produce an audible sound but do not explode or spark are allowed. Also a device that emits smoke and does not leave the ground is also allowable.
Clearing the air The fine for first time offenders is $88.
Jack said there were eight citations given within the city during June and July last year.
But he explained this number is not equivalent to the amount of people who actually were using illegal fireworks in the city.
One of the factors in this is due to the amount of staff that is available as well as it being the officer’s discretion whether or not to give a citation.
Jack said the holiday is one of the busier times for him and his staff due to the parade in the morning and the city’s fireworks show at the Waukesha Expo Center. He also added that sometimes the police might give out verbal warnings instead of issuing out citations.
While Jack said most offenders are cooperative with police, he still wants citizens to understand the ordinance because it has been a problem within the city recently.
“There are a tremendous amount of complaints,” Jack said. “There are so many going off that half our city is always filled with smoke. I think people can tolerate it at 1 or 2 p.m. but not at 10 p.m. or later.” Off the shelves Even so, Jack also said he has to give credit to police officers, David Platta and Andrew Schmidt, for helping to eliminate the use of illegal fireworks in the city.
He said the two recently went into Waukesha stores that sell fireworks and informed the owners to have all the illegal ones removed from the shelves so customers can not even get to them.
“I want to compliment them on their effort,” Jack said. “They were being proactive.
But it’s simple supply and demand. If we are getting rid of the supply, then that will help eliminate them.” Jack then compared it to a similar issue that police have been fighting for years.
“It’s just like the war on drugs,” Jack said. “Too often people focus on the user, but when we cut off the supply it’s much more effective.” And being effective is what Jack and his staff will be on the Fourth of July holiday and the rest of the summer.
After all, he said they have one goal.
“The purpose is for the safety of the citizens,” Jack said. “It’s a real safety issue and we just want to make sure no one gets hurt. I don’t want the message to be that it’s OK to do it.” FIREWORKS 101 City of Waukesha Municipal Ordinance 11.12, Regulation of Fireworks states “No person shall sell, expose, offer for sale, use, keep discharge or explode any fireworks.” First time offenders can face an $88 fine. The following are allowed:. Sparklers less than 36 inches in length and.25 inches in outside diameter. Devices that produce an audible sound but do not explode or spark.
Copyright 2011 Journal Sentinel Inc.