The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday strengthened its fireworks ordinance as California slides into what’s expected to be one of its most dangerous fire seasons on record.
Under the new ordinance, owners can be held responsible for anyone using fireworks on their property and in their vessels. The Sheriff’s Office can now fine them $100 for an initial violation, $200 for a second one within the same year, and $500 for each additional violation within the same year.
“Illegal fireworks pose a danger to our communities and a drain on our system,” Board chairperson Diane Burgis said in a statement. “We simply don’t have the resources to address this continued problem. I would encourage the cities to follow suit and send the message that illegal fireworks will not be tolerated in Contra Costa County.”
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Chief Lewis Broschard III said fire season has arrived early this year, with some Antioch residents already losing their homes on Memorial Day thanks to a fire started by illegal fireworks.
“The use of illegal fireworks caused a recent fire in our county that destroyed two apartment buildings and displaced 30 residents,” Broschard said in a statement. “Playing with illegal fireworks is dangerous and poses the very real possibility of causing wildland fires that could easily destroy homes and threaten lives in this time of critically high fire risk. We urge everyone to follow the regulations and stay safe.”
26 comments
The fireworks have been going off every night for weeks now. Sometimes sounds like someone driving slow and tossing big ones out every other house. Others put on sky shows. While I don’t care for jumping out of my skin with the big ones I do enjoy the sky shows.
This will change absolutely nothing with the people that want to set off fireworks they’ve tried every tactic in the books for the last 30 to 40 years around here and nothing works, I guess these dummies will never realize scare tactics fines and/or jail time will not work and stop people from doing this every year.
Get over it Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks by private individuals will continue to go on and nothing anyone can do will prevent it stop it or even slow it down.
You nailed it! 🎯
It’s called freedom. Prepare accordingly.
They need to be clearer in their use of language. The fireworks shown in the picture are legal in many cities in California and across most of the United States, as well. The fireworks that caused that apartment fire are illegal almost everywhere, including in cities that allow the type of fireworks shown in the picture (so-called safe-and-sane fireworks.)
It appears Diane Burgis is trying to lump them all together as illegal fireworks.
Legal fireworks may be illegal in parts of Contra Costa, but they are legal almost everywhere else.
Hopefully, she won’t be tackling gun control next.
Laws have always stopped criminals in their tracks haven’t they?
If illegal fireworks are so dangerous, perhaps rhey should be made legal. Isn’t this logical?
Good. But let’s be real, the police usually never catch the perps. Neighbors call and nothing happens.
Whether it be a sparkler, snake or pinwheel, legal or not they all involve fire. Each one is capable of starting a fire, and just like bdpirate said, people will continue to celebrate the 4th. No County Supervisor or fire chiefs words are going to change that. If the County really wanted to make a change how about some really stiff sentences for the offenders that get caught and have caused destuction. If there is no deterrent why comply.
“Under the new ordinance, owners can be held responsible for anyone using fireworks on their property and in their vessels.”
I just don’t like the sound of this statement.
Hold people doing the crime for the crime.
Don’t hold the shovel responsible for digging the hole.
We all love fireworks especially on the 4th of July or on New Years Eve. However, considering the drought, the horrendous fires we have had the last several years, a little common sense is in order. We don’t have freedom to shout fire in a crowded theater, and setting off fireworks in under these dry conditions seems very close to that. I suppose it depends where you live, and how much control you have over the fireworks. A friend of mine, who passed away almost a year ago, owned a house off Willow Pass, however because of Covid his sister has just been able to sell the house now. She lives in San Diego, the yard has high dry grass in it, it wouldn’t take much to start a fire, and depending on wind conditions, it could easily spread to other houses. The house has now been sold, and the new owners, I imagine, would take care of the yard before the 4th.
How bout safe firework spots that ppl can light them off ? Some sort of zone where they sell em and keep them on property and of course safety measures
That sounds like a good idea. When I lived in Foster City, when my daughter was growing up, they had an area for Halloween that was called safe for trick and treating. It was always fun, many businesses decorated the garages, and most of Foster City parents and kids went there, it was like a huge fun block party.
The only way to stop fireworks is the way I did it in Malibu.
Pull over any car on the way to the beach for any reason or no reason and ask for the fireworks. Just confiscate them, no ticket.
No fires.
108RS
So you are readily admitting you dirty searched people? You know, violated their Constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure?
What great policies the LA County Sheriff’s Department has. Probably explains why the California Department of Justice is investigating the LASD for Civil Rights violations and Former Sheriff Baca is in Federal prison for corruption.
Jeff maybe you can have the prison cell next to Baca?
So you are readily admitting you dirty searched people? You know, violated their Constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure?
What great policies the LA County Sheriff’s Department has. Probably explains why the California Department of Justice is investigating the LASD for Civil Rights violations and Former Sheriff Baca is in Federal prison for corruption.
Jeff maybe you can have the prison cell next to Baca?
I’m a big fan of the Constitution, but asking for something is not the same as searching somebody for it.
@ Chicken Little – as a layman I wouldn’t expect you to immediately recognize the problem with Jeff’s admission. You are focusing on the “asking” but that is incidental to the bigger issue which is the initial car stop.
When the police make a car stop they are seizing the vehicle and occupants under the meaning of 4th Amendment. Any car stop by the Government must be supported by a reasonable or articulable suspicion that some criminal activity is afoot.
A car stop for “no reason” is arbitrary and is not based upon what is required under the Constitution. The car stop was based on “because Deputy Jeff wanted to and could do so”. A fishing expedition to see what he could catch. That he says he took no punitive action is just self-preservation. When you knowingly violate someone’s rights the last thing you want is to memorialize the event.
Whatever comes after the illegal seizure cannot be voluntary even if you said “pretty please”. It is all fruits of the poisonous tree.
Any cop who graduated the police academy and FTO program would know that.
I’m a layperson and I can tell Jeff was a reserve officer.
Look at the bleeding heart lib cry for the CONSTITUTION. 🤣🤣🤣
So now you care huh?
Now do the 1st, 2nd.
Sam
If that comment was directed at me: I’ve been accused of a lot of things in my life but being a “bleeding heart lib” was never one of them! That actually made me smile thinking how people who know me would respond to that accusation.
I wonder if you might have me (Janus) confused with “Janon”, the person who thinks everyone who disagrees with Newsom has a problem with authority…. which I comment on.
If not than you really need to re-read my pervious comments.
Janus ~ Please define “dirty searched” I got a completely different first impression than you are describing here.
@ Dr. Jellyfinger
Hopefully this helps.
A dirty search is police slang for an unlawful search or seizure. In this case, you cannot make an unlawful car stop, that is one without reasonable or articulable suspicion and then try and rehabilitate all that follows by claiming it was voluntary or consensual. It can never be voluntary or consensual because the occupants rights were violated by the unlawful detention (car stop).
The occupants should never been stopped in the first place and all that follows should never have happened. It is a sanction against the executive branch to encourage obedience with the law – “fruits of the poisonous tree” doctrine.
It is also a violation of Title 18, Section 242 which makes it a Federal crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
The first part of Jeff’s admission, the pretext stops are perfectly lawful. You can stop a vehicle for a traffic violation unrelated to fireworks (the pretext) and then try and develop probable cause to search for what you are really after (fireworks) or search based other reasons such as parole or probation, search incident to arrest, inventory search for storing or impounding a vehicle or just ask for consent to search. All perfectly legal and above board.
“No reason” car stops are capricious and arbitrary because it is based on no reasonable or articulable suspicion. Simply because a person is driving a vehicle on or about the 4th of July in Malibu or whatever reason Jeff made up in his head does not equate to possession of fireworks.
I was in California law enforcement for 28 years. It annoys me when people like Jeff, the definition of self-aggrandizement, makes comments that besmirch a profession I was proud to be a part of. It gives people the impression police officers are arrogant will violate the law they are sworn to uphold whenever it suits their needs.
I have fireworks and I’ll light em off if I damn well please just like I’ve done for the past 50+ years.
So if something catch fire are you okay with paying the damage?
the direly important principles of “law and order” become nothing but a farcical mockery, when the rules, regulations and/or laws are not stringently enforced.
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