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Should Firework Celebrations Have Limits?

Summerville Town Councilman proposes cutoff times for launching fireworks outside of holidays.

 

Summerville Town Council could explore limiting fireworks on non-holiday nights if Councilman Walter Bailey's proposal grows legs. 

Mayor Bill Collins agreed Monday to have the item placed on council's agenda in September.

"There ought to be a deadline or a cutoff," Bailey said, adding that he heard fireworks going off around midnight on the days leading up to and after the July Fourth holiday.

Fireworks are a popular on-sale items at retail stores and fireworks stands the days after July Fourth and New Year's Day, meaning the party can keep going for days.

Bailey also said he didn't want to ban or limit fireworks displays on the day of holidays like Independence Day and New Year's Eve. 

"I don't want to ban fireworks; there just needs to be a cutoff period," he said.

Councilman Bob Jackson proposed the provision be added to the town's current noise ordinance, but Police Chief Bruce Owens said the noise ordinance as "it is currently written, it is difficult to enforce."

He explained that because noise violations in town limits are misdemeanors, the officer must witness the incident in person.

"It's a little more complicated than it sounds," Owens said.

County Council is discussing adding a noise ordinance.

Though Bailey suggested the fireworks discussion be taken up this Wednesday or during the August meeting, Collins decided to wait until September so he could delve into the issue.

Related Topics: Bob Jackson, Bruce Owens, Summerville Town Council, Walter Bailey, and bill collins

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Lindsay Street

5:35 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Trish on Facebook answered the questions did last night's fireworks keep her up at night and should there be limits: "Yes. And yes they should"

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Lindsay Street

10:49 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Debra writes on Facebook: "I sure hope so, I have to drug up my dogs & sleep on the floor with them every 7/4 & New Years. My neighbor has caught my shrubs next to my driveway & house on fire & the trash that I have to pick up out of my yard is crazy. I wish they would just ban them all together but that isn't going to happen because of the tax dollars."

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Chris Carney

10:58 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Ban them for good. Fireworks suck!

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SDR

7:39 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Yeah, Let's go back the the recommendation of Founding Father John Adams that we discharge firearms on July 4 to remind government where the power lies.

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reg

9:35 am on Wednesday, July 11, 2012

a bit personalized in interpretation there, sdr - " It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Beth Bryan

10:47 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Personally, I would like them banned completely, but at the very least limit fireworks to the holiday only. My dog spends days being afraid to go outside every 7/4 and 12/31.

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