General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow bad is the fireworks situation in your area?
It's not even July 4 yet and it already sounds like it, there's supposed to be a $1000 fine for setting off fireworks but everyone's just ignoring it. Is it this bad too in other states?
Nevilledog
(51,201 posts)N. AZ
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)kimbutgar
(21,210 posts)I am looking forward to July 5th and hope it ends.
sakabatou
(42,176 posts)chowder66
(9,084 posts)I was thinking it's going to be like this for a long time. It usually goes on for about 3 weeks after the 4th, sporadically... but I'm worried it's going to continue long after that. I hope I'm wrong.
The lead up has been a huge annoyance. Have lost a lot of sleep over the past few months because of them.
onetexan
(13,062 posts)Sewa
(1,262 posts)in my neighborhood. Fireworks going off as I type this. Dog next door is howling.
roamer65
(36,747 posts)People are stir crazy and looking for stimulation.
drray23
(7,637 posts)on our land. Closest neighbour is a couple miles away. So, unless we drive to town 15 miles away, no fireworks.
Liberty Belle
(9,535 posts)due not only to safety concerns, but fire danger.
All we need a amid a pandemic is a wildfire with no evacuation centers open. Damn fools.
Awsi Dooger
(14,565 posts)One stretch was so bad I was having trouble hearing the other end of a phone call
chillfactor
(7,584 posts)I am pretty islolated where my house is. There have been a few complaints of some fireworks in the East Mountain area where I am but not any near me. We are under a fire watch in this area...I can't even BBQ on my deck. Anyone who would set off fireworks in this area....are profoundly STUPID. It could people in danger.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)are having problems with them. It would drive me crazy. I am going up to Maine tomorrow and they are a little more firework happy than we are down here, so I expect to hear a lot more of them since there will be no formal display this year. I just hope there are no accidents and that the dogs don't freak out.
I think the big displays are kind of pretty, but I have never liked the noise and I can pretty much take them or leave them. They are nice in the background, but I don't like being too close up.
marybourg
(12,637 posts)marybourg
(12,637 posts)leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)greytdemocrat
(3,299 posts)Some big booms over the last 2 days but
nothing of any length. Our Greyhound goes
nuts and this year we got her some meds.
MustLoveBeagles
(11,636 posts)Tonight it's very bad. Several very loud booms. One of our beagles is too terrified to go outside and do his business. I'm tired of cleaning up dog messes in the house. Our other male didn't like them in the past but he's deaf now so it doesn't effect him anymore. The past three days they've even been setting them off during the day. I'll be glad when this holiday is over.
Xolodno
(6,401 posts)I live in a small rural town, so the fire department is literally right around the corner for everyone. It's what dissuaded me while traveling in New Mexico and salivating at some cheap and explosive fire works that are not legal anywhere in California. Apparently not for some.
Someone sent some motar's up during Mother's Day....then the police chopper showed up looking for the offender. And where were at, seeing the police chopper is extremely rare (unlike where we used to live and it was twice a week).
Our cats sure aren't liking it. We might buy some from the legal stands from the town next door and set them off in the backyard....nothing but dirt and all dried brush was removed a month ago, and when we have done it, we have a trash can full of water to dispose them and wet down everything. I don't know, yes the fountains are fun to watch, but at the same time, I feel like I'm literally burning money.
At some relatives, last year some people were shooting roman candles at each other and down right being irresponsible with other illegal fireworks. In the past, lighting them up straight into the air, over their property, no one had a problem with. But last year, pissed a lot of neighbors off, including those launching the illegal fireworks and trying to be safe about it. They all plan on reporting it now. All it takes is one irresponsible person/group to cause major damage.
Chellee
(2,102 posts)They've been going intermittently for the last few weeks. Not every night and only 15-20 minutes per session. Generally between 9:30 and 12:30. None of the really loud stuff yet, they'll save the expensive ones for the actual holiday. But this is, honestly, normal for here. It will not end after July 4th. It will be this way all summer long. Hoosiers like to blow shit up.
badhair77
(4,221 posts)They start while its still light and go sporadically, sometimes past midnight. My dog is not happy. We have to get her outside to do her business as early as 7 or 8. Once she hears one she is hiding somewhere or shaking. This is our worst year.
greytdemocrat
(3,299 posts)But I don't like people who set off those
huge mortars. These things are almost pro
grade stuff and if they aren't setup right
before they go off they could go right into
someone's house and set it on fire. I've seen
it almost happen...
Demovictory9
(32,475 posts)Polybius
(15,492 posts)I like hearing fireworks the final week of the Fourth.
Brother Buzz
(36,469 posts)Twice, she's tried to climb into the refrigerator to seek shelter. That is, when she's not under the bed or locking herself in the bathroom.
It is bad. Safe and sane, my ass!
Demovictory9
(32,475 posts)Raine
(30,540 posts)it's been going on all Spring and it's not small ones but BIG ones, the kind that they use launchers for. People around here are really pissed, it's scaring everyone's pets so much.
JI7
(89,276 posts)It actually happens every year but I think usually it starts around a month or a couple weeks or so before. But this started earlier .
I know it's not legal but it's one of those things they never enforce .
DFW
(54,445 posts)July 4th is not a holiday here
Amishman
(5,559 posts)I'm out in the country so it's not very close either
We do get plenty out here though, plus the occasional big boom if someone sets off a salute cannon.
Chainfire
(17,644 posts)I have heard no fireworks activity. That may change the closer we get to the 4th. While most fireworks are illegal in Florida, Alabama provides, at least this end of the state, with any kind of bang you could ask for. Of course that may be limited by the number of people who have money to burn during the virus.
ecstatic
(32,733 posts)It's picking up in intensity as the 4th approaches.
cherish44
(2,566 posts)People set off fireworks for no reason all year long. There were some really loud ones going off last night. The 4th is probably going to be ridiculous because there are no real fireworks shows planned for our area.
Demsrule86
(68,696 posts)MineralMan
(146,333 posts)It started last night this year.
I read an article in the local paper that said the City of St. Paul has one car in each policing district to respond to fireworks complaints. Since I know of at least ten neighbors within a block of my house who put on major fireworks shows from their front yards, i don't think that's quite enough law enforcement people assigned to a city of 250,000, somehow.
I'm sure some people call the police about their next-door neighbors and their almost professional fireworks. I doubt that anyone responds to their calls, though. So, I don't bother calling. It does no good at all.
My dogs wish people wouldn't do that. They don't like hiding under the bed for three or four nights in a row.
PTWB
(4,131 posts)While most people enjoy fireworks, I recognize that some do not. I think they should be limited to the weeks before and after the 4th and New Years.
MineralMan
(146,333 posts)Aerial and explosive fireworks are illegal in Minnesota. Why? Because of fire and safety risks. It's a sensible law, actually. Last year in St. Paul, three house fires were started by fireworks, and the emergency rooms are busy with injuries - mostly burns but some more serious injuries.
Laws that go unenforced are simply ignored by people, of course.
In my old home town in California, exploding and flying fireworks were also illegal. However, unlike my current city, the local police and fire department in that down patrolled the entire town on the fourth of July. Illegal fireworks were confiscated by both departments and misdemeanor citations were handed out. So, people didn't shoot off that kind of fireworks there.
Loud booms, etc., don't bother me, really. I do worry about fires, though. However, fireworks terrify many pets and can have a serious negative effect on PTSD victims and others. The laws against explosive and aerial fireworks are not in any way unreasonable laws. However, if laws are not enforced, they might as well not exist.
PTWB
(4,131 posts)How do you feel about prohibition? It is without question that alcohol consumption causes more property damage, injuries and deaths than fireworks.
MineralMan
(146,333 posts)The law is designed to prevent fires and injuries. What good would an exemption do for that?
Explosive and aerial fireworks are prohibited in many jurisdictions. In Minnesota, they're prohibited throughout the state.
Professional displays are usually allowed here, but not this year, due to COVID-19.
PTWB
(4,131 posts)Clearly it doesnt work with fireworks, either.
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)It is illegal here but just over the county line there are tons of fireworks stands.
I hope the neighbors dont go much past midnight. 🙄
Its not so bad this year since its a weekend. It really drives me nuts when the 4th is on a weeknight and I have to get up for work the next day.
A couple of years ago they set off so many fireworks they blew a hole in the road creating a crater / pothole. Good lord!
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)WHO SETS OFF FIREWORKS IN THE DAYLIGHT?? Why?? (No, it's not firecrackers or cherry bombs... I can clearly hear the whoooosh of the "rocket" before the super-loud crack and report of the payload once it reaches altitude.)
I'm finding firework residue (spent cartridges, clay plugs, cardboard tubes, plastic whistlers) all over my lawn and driveway that have drifted down from the sky above.
What is WRONG with people?
Is it too evil for me to secretly be hoping that these assholes burn their hands/fingers? (Yes, it is. I just want them to stop.)
NotASurfer
(2,155 posts)Either test shots to gauge the best viewing angle, or to see how fast the police response is. I figure this weekend, pets will be hiding under the bed wondering how long the thunder will go on.
backtoblue
(11,345 posts)Rural area, but there are some shitty neighbors who light bombs up until around1 or 2 am.
My animals are traumatized and I physically jerk when one goes off.
New Years and July 4 are my least favorite nights of the year.
Agschmid
(28,749 posts)MineralMan
(146,333 posts)The two things are not related to each other.
Retrograde
(10,159 posts)There's a creek at the end of my street, which being in California is dry most of the year. It's inhabited by local wildlife, including skunks and raccoons. In late summer, coyotes, wildcats, and the occasional mountain lion use it as a path to the bay: we know they're around because we can smell the skunks.
I've been smelling them the last few days, about two months earlier than usual. And the fireworks haven't even been that bad yet. I expect tomorrow to be noisy.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)I expect that'll change soon enough.