Fireworks Safety and the Law
Although
the purchase of some types of fireworks may be legal in some neighboring
states, the fact remains that they are still illegal to use or even
possess
in Illinois.
In
addition to the illegality, at times people tend to overlook the obvious
dangers involved. Fireworks can also find their way into the hands of
children who can be burned, blinded and otherwise injured from heat,
fire, projectiles and explosions. Remember, fireworks are gunpowder
explosives and are just plain dangerous.
Here's
something that you may not have known... One out of every three
fireworks injuries is to the eyes, and one out of every four fireworks
eye injuries means some kind of permanent blindness. You can
learn more about eye safety from the
Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness.
Spring
Grove’s ordinances prohibit any person from using, selling, delivering,
exploding or possessing fireworks in the village all year round. The
term "fireworks" includes firecrackers, cherry bombs, M-80's, bottle
rockets and Roman candles.
Did you know that the
tip of a sparkler burns at 1,800 degrees!
Remember, the laws in Illinois do not change over the July 4 holiday or
for any other holiday.
In other words, fireworks are no more legal on these
dates than they are at other times of the year. The Spring Grove Police
Department stresses that all complaints of fireworks are thoroughly
investigated. If someone is found to be in violation, the items in
question will be confiscated and the person(s) involved will be arrested
and/or charged when appropriate. This applies to both adults and minors
alike.
Fireworks Ordinance:
Chapter 19, Article 3. Paragraph 17
The term fireworks shall mean and include
any explosive composition, or any
substance or combination of substances or
article prepared for the purpose of producing an audible effect by
explosion or detonation only, and shall include blank cartridges, toy
cannons, in which explosives are used, the type of balloons which
require fire underneath to propel the same, firecrackers, torpedoes,
skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs or other fireworks of like construction
and any fireworks containing any explosive compound or any tablets or
other devices containing any explosive substance. The term fireworks
shall not include sparklers which do not contain magnesium, toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns or other
devices in which paper caps containing .25 grains or less explosive
compound are used; provided they are so constructed that the hand cannot
come in contact with the cap when in place for the explosion. It shall
also not include toy pistol caps which contain .25 grains or less
explosive mixture and which are packed in packages or containers
containing 300 caps or less, the sale and use of which shall be
permitted at all times.
The police department
will aggressively enforce this ordinance.
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