The annual trip to Tennessee or Indiana to buy fireworks could soon become a thing of the past for people in Kentucky. The state house approved a bill to allow sales of bottle rockets, roman candles and mortar shells to anyone at least 18 years-old.
If it passes the state senate, it would allow people to shoot them in Kentucky, and as Joe Webb reports, keep shoppers from crossing state lines to skirt the law.
The Kentucky House passed this fireworks bill by 92-6, so it has some serious support. It would keep some money from crossing the river into Indiana, but some say that tax money would come at a pretty high cost.
The fireworks outlets in Indiana are quiet today, but are flush with Kentuckians' money every holiday season. It's not like you can't find the high-flying stuff in Kentucky. There's plenty on the shelves at Vito's Fireworks in Independence. But today, you can only buy bottle rockets, mortars and roman candles... flying fireworks... if you sign a waiver saying you're a wholesale fireworks distributor. It's a law Kentuckians skirt every Fourth of July.
Vito Casullo, Vito's Fireworks: "You wasn't supposed to unless you was buying them for shipment out of the state. There was a fine law and old law that was contested in court a couple of times and they wanted to do it right. That's why they wanted to pass it."
He's talking about House Bill 333 that passed Kentucky's House and heads to the Senate. The bill would eliminate the charade of the distributor song and dance and let anyone 18 years-old buy the flying fireworks and shoot them off in Kentucky. It closes a loophole in Kentucky fireworks law, but it's a big dud for Indiana.
"I think over the first five years, it will be up to generating $5 million a year and that will all go to Kentucky and Kentucky can sure use the money."
Fireworks are a huge seasonal business, and every year we're reminded of their dangers with exploding watermelons and mannequins in ball caps. Not everyone buys the argument that House Bill 333 is good for Kentucky.
Tim Deye, Erlanger Fire Marshal: "I really do think this will cause an increase in incidents, whether it will be fire or EMS related, as a result of this bill. I can only hope the Senate will shoot it down."
The bill sets rules for shooting fireworks. You can't be within 200 feet of a home, so that would make most backyard use illegal. Enforcement is pretty non-existent from late June through the Fourth of July, except late at night.
Many think, since fireworks are already out there, why not enjoy the tax benefit?
All but one Northern Kentucky State Representatives voted for it. Addia Wuechner of Boone County voted against it.
The bill now goes to the Senate. Vito Casullo says it has very strong support and he expects it to pass.