Addressing Fireworks in our Neighborhoods

By Zach Friend, Santa Cruz County Supervisor 2nd Distict

Over the last few years our office has received a number of complaints about fireworks – from concerns about the noise to fire and environmental concerns. While they are fired throughout the year they are particularly problematic in the summer (and around July 4th in particular).

The majority of calls come from the coastal areas of our district including Rio Del Mar, Seacliff and La Selva Beach. However, as enforcement has increased along the beach areas some of the urban areas away from the coast have contacted our office concerned with an uptick in occurrences.

Fireworks, even safe and sane fireworks, are illegal in the unincorporated area. They are sold legally in neighboring jurisdictions and often brought illegally into our community and fired off on the beaches, in the neighborhoods and even along the rail corridor and local parks. Over this time we’ve worked to increase the fines for fireworks.

Specifically, fireworks violations are subject to triple fines during July 4th, which means a citation can cost well over $1,000 after court costs are added on. Additionally, we’ve authorized increased staffing and enforcement but recognizing the problem is beyond just an enforcement issue we are now looking at taking a more comprehensive approach toward addressing the problem.

Working with local community groups and the Sheriff’s Office over the last year we’ve come up with a set of policies and approaches that the Board of Supervisors is considering this month. The approach is threefold: improved tools of enforcement, better education locally, and outreach to neighboring jurisdictions that sell fireworks. Specifically, the plan calls for:

• Making triple fines for fireworks permanent on July 4th and other holidays (meaning possession of fireworks will cost you well over $1000 in fines and court costs)
• Visits to local high schools by the Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer for education to students about the dangers and enforcement actions
• Producing public service announcements and other media outreach to local and regional media outlets about enforcement plans and the danger of fireworks before the summer
• Expanding digital signage near hot spot neighborhoods about enforcement
• Working with 9-1-1 dispatchers regarding how these calls are handled and also for education to the caller about the best information to provide to ensure proper enforcement
• Working with vacation rental owners to educate them about visitors bringing illegal fireworks and also the consequences associated with it
• Increasing police patrols — we accomplish this by eliminating the road closures in certain neighborhoods to free up those officers to do neighborhood and beach patrols
• Sending letters to neighboring jurisdictions that sell fireworks encouraging them to partner with us on the issues their fireworks cause
• Outreach to State Parks for improved and increased enforcement on state beaches and parks during July 4th and other peak times.

We have even more elements to this improved strategy but this is an overview. There is no question that addressing this issue will take a multi-faceted approach and I’m hopeful this will be an important set of steps.

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As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to call me at 454-2200 with your questions and comments.