MONROE - If a firework is designed to fly in the air, explode or shoot out objects other than showers of sparks, it is illegal in the City of Monroe.
Chief of Police Fred Kelley issued a release Monday to clarify local laws regarding fireworks, since the police department receives "tons of questions" every year at this time about the sale, possession and use of fireworks.
It is important to make the distinction between what state statutes (and the City of Monroe) define as a "firework" from the more common, broader usage of the word, he said.
Wisconsin statutes define fireworks as anything manufactured, processed or packaged for exploding, combustion or emitting sparks, and that does not have another common use.
This does not include fuseless devices designed to produce audible or visual effects, sparklers less than 3 feet long, party poppers, smoke bombs or toy snakes. These items are still legal and not considered "fireworks" under state and local laws.
A permit is needed to sell or possess fireworks, and the City of Monroe chooses not to issue permits for the use or sale of fireworks. The city has never issued these permits, and there are no plans to do so this year.
As such, it is illegal to sell or possess fireworks in Monroe.
"Because of complaints and confusion," Kelly said in the release, the police department does inspect fireworks stands in the city to ensure that no fireworks, other than those listed, are being sold. Each year, he said, violations are found, and a warning generally takes care of the problem.
A citation for possessing or using illegal fireworks is $175. Parents who allow their child to use illegal fireworks face potential fines of up to $1,000, and also face liability for any damages caused by their child's use of fireworks.
Kelley warns that it is illegal to bring legal fireworks - sparklers, party-poppers, cones, fountains - to fireworks displays because it is a safety issue.
"Do not bring these items to the fireworks display in Twining Park on July 4," he said.
"Local officials realize that with fireworks comes fun," he concluded, but often "the fun turns into tragedy when fireworks explode in some unpredicted manner.
Even legal fireworks should be used in a careful environment: "Parents should supervise to ensure there are no unexpected explosions, no accidents with matches or lighters, and that hot wires from used sparklers are not handled improperly. Some of these are still hundreds of degrees hot immediately after use."
Chief of Police Fred Kelley issued a release Monday to clarify local laws regarding fireworks, since the police department receives "tons of questions" every year at this time about the sale, possession and use of fireworks.
It is important to make the distinction between what state statutes (and the City of Monroe) define as a "firework" from the more common, broader usage of the word, he said.
Wisconsin statutes define fireworks as anything manufactured, processed or packaged for exploding, combustion or emitting sparks, and that does not have another common use.
This does not include fuseless devices designed to produce audible or visual effects, sparklers less than 3 feet long, party poppers, smoke bombs or toy snakes. These items are still legal and not considered "fireworks" under state and local laws.
A permit is needed to sell or possess fireworks, and the City of Monroe chooses not to issue permits for the use or sale of fireworks. The city has never issued these permits, and there are no plans to do so this year.
As such, it is illegal to sell or possess fireworks in Monroe.
"Because of complaints and confusion," Kelly said in the release, the police department does inspect fireworks stands in the city to ensure that no fireworks, other than those listed, are being sold. Each year, he said, violations are found, and a warning generally takes care of the problem.
A citation for possessing or using illegal fireworks is $175. Parents who allow their child to use illegal fireworks face potential fines of up to $1,000, and also face liability for any damages caused by their child's use of fireworks.
Kelley warns that it is illegal to bring legal fireworks - sparklers, party-poppers, cones, fountains - to fireworks displays because it is a safety issue.
"Do not bring these items to the fireworks display in Twining Park on July 4," he said.
"Local officials realize that with fireworks comes fun," he concluded, but often "the fun turns into tragedy when fireworks explode in some unpredicted manner.
Even legal fireworks should be used in a careful environment: "Parents should supervise to ensure there are no unexpected explosions, no accidents with matches or lighters, and that hot wires from used sparklers are not handled improperly. Some of these are still hundreds of degrees hot immediately after use."