City cracks drown on New Year's violators
Vancouver issued three citations for fireworks violations on New Year's Eve. Two citations, each carrying a $500 fine, were handed out for people who possessed illegal fireworks, such as firecrackers and bottle rockets.The remaining citation, for $250, was issued for using legal fireworks, which can be discharged only during the July 4 season.
Fire Marshall Jim Crawford said two teams were on fireworks patrol from 10 p.m. Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Jan. 1."It is very difficult to find violators," Crawford wrote in an e-mail to top city officials. "The complaints come in very heavy right around midnight, but by the time they get on site, there is no one around." Crawford, in a telephone interview, said police and fire marshals respond to fireworks complaints that come in outside the four-hour window when personnel are available.
For New Year's Eve, most of the activity occurs near midnight, he said. The city could issue more citations if it had more resources to put enforcement teams on the streets, he said."It's just not practical for the city to do that right now," Crawford sad. This is the fourth year that Vancouver enforced a ban on New Year's Eve fireworks, which the city council approved in 2004. The change didn't take effect until 2005 because state law requires a one-year waiting period. A year ago, the city issued five citations for New Year's violations, a drop from the 10 citations handed out in each of the two preceding years.
Vancouver is whittling back summer fireworks. Beginning in 2009, legal fireworks can be used from June 28 to July 4, subject to curfew hours. In 2010, fireworks can be discharged on four days, July 1 to July 4. Last year the season ran June 28-July 5.