People who set off illegal fireworks in Williams can run, but they may soon find they cannot hide.
The Williams City Council finalized a new ordinance last week that will allow police officers to cite the person who controls the property from where illegal fireworks are launched – not just the individual who lights the device.
Williams Mayor Roberto Mendoza said he hopes the new law will put an end to people launching illegal aerial fireworks almost nightly before running inside their homes and turning off all the lights before the police have time to respond.
“I agree 100 percent that this has got to stop…,” Mendoza said. “They already know you can’t have fireworks, but they do it anyway.”
Mendoza said the recurring problem is generally at one location, and that it has been impossible to catch the individual in the act. Officials said illegal fireworks launched during large gatherings also makes it impossible to charge an individual with a misdemeanor crime unless witnessed by a police officer.
According to Lt. Chris Miller, the new ordinance will give the police department the tool to curb behavior because homeowners or tenants of rental property can be issued an administrative citation that carries with it a $1,000 penalty.
“We know if we can identify which house it’s coming from, and we’ve got a specific property, instead of having to witness it and just having that criminal aspect of illegal fireworks, this is going to allow us an administrative resolution.”
California law has prohibitions against selling and using specific fireworks where there is likelihood that they could cause injury or fire.
The new ordinance, which takes effect next month, also has specific provisions regarding possessing, storing, selling, or using fireworks or any ignitable device that produce audible, visual, mechanical, or therma effects.
The ordinance requires permits for public pyrotechnic displays, and also restricts the use of legal “Safe and Sane” fireworks to specific times.
The City Council approved the ordinance 4-1 on March 16.
Vice Mayor Sajit Singh dissented because the new law would allow the city to place a lien against property if an administrative fine is not paid by a tenant of the property where the illegal fireworks activity occurred.
City officials said they hoped the “Social Host Liability Ordinance,” intended to hold persons in control of a property accountable for the illegal use of fireworks, will be enough deterrent to curb the illegal activity that puts public safety at risk, annoys the residents of Williams, and terrorizes animals and pets. ■