Ventura County Grand Jury • 2004-2005

The Impact of Illegal Fireworks on Ventura County Cities

Published: June 29, 2005 6 pages
Ver PDF original

Findings and Recommendations 68 findings

F01
California law has established “safe and sane” fireworks standards that allow the sale and use of small fireworks but outlaw the sale and use of larger pyrotechnics by the general public. "Safe and sane" fireworks include cones that shoot showers of sparks up into the air (less than 8 feet), Piccolo Petes and pinwheels. Any fireworks that cause explosions or that rise more than 8 feet into the air are illegal.
No recommendations for this finding
F02
All Ventura County cities ban the sale and use of the larger pyrotechnics except for use by licensed professionals presenting the fireworks shows hosted by the cities. Fillmore
No recommendations for this finding
F03
The City of Fillmore authorizes the sale and use of "safe and sane" fireworks between the hours of noon on June 28th and noon on July 5th.
No recommendations for this finding
F04
A maximum of 25 vendors is allowed. Most are established repeat vendors.
No recommendations for this finding
F05
Training of vendors is mandatory. They must display signs clearly labeled that the use of the fireworks being sold is only legal in the City of Fillmore. A person must be at least 16 years of age to buy fireworks and must be at least 18 years of age to sell them. Vendors cannot hand the purchased fireworks to a child.
No recommendations for this finding
F06
The State Fire Marshal, who regulates the booth inspection and approves fireworks to be sold, licenses the vendors. The booths are also licensed by the City of Fillmore.
No recommendations for this finding
F07
In addition to Fillmore there are 81 other cities in California that have legalized the selling of "safe and sane" fireworks.
No recommendations for this finding
F08
In 2003, fireworks booths in Fillmore generated $1.3 million in gross sales.
No recommendations for this finding
F09
Each vendor pays a $400 concession fee to the city.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
After overhead, consisting of staff time, the cost to process the concession fees and the cost of fire inspections, the remainder of the fee provides a no- entrance-fee community fireworks show.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
The City of Fillmore earns 1% sales tax from fireworks purchases amounting to approximately $13,000 per year.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The City of Fillmore confiscates illegal fireworks which are then turned over to the Sheriff's bomb team for destruction.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The Sheriff's Department monitors the highway for sales of illegal fireworks.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Fillmore experiences two to three brush fires per year, some due to illegal fireworks. The police department receives many nuisance (noise) calls related to fireworks, however, the problems are 100% attributable to illegal fireworks as opposed to the legal ones. Oxnard
No recommendations for this finding
F15
In the City of Oxnard all sales and use of fireworks by the public are illegal.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
There were 311 telephone calls for service received by the Oxnard police department that related to illegal fireworks in 2003 and 379 calls in 2004. The time span of these calls was from July 4th to July 5th.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
The police department arrested 3 people and issued 145 citations for illegal fireworks in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
The police department spent $40,377 in 2004 enforcing the fireworks ordinances.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
There was one injury and no fires attributable to fireworks in 2004. The fire department spent $1,886 to provide stand-by crews during the "fireworks season."
No recommendations for this finding
F20
Persons from whom illegal fireworks were confiscated reported that they had obtained them from China via Mexico, from Fillmore, San Fernando and the Internet.
No recommendations for this finding
F21
The police department reported that a new city ordinance that will increase the fine for fireworks violations up to a maximum of $1,000 is scheduled for final approval by the city in June 2005. Simi Valley
No recommendations for this finding
F22
Simi Valley Police Department reported that there were 638 calls for service relating to fireworks from July 1st to July 8th in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F23
There were no arrests but some citations were given during that period.
No recommendations for this finding
F24
Simi Valley Police Department's Special Operations Unit is responsible for enforcing the fireworks ordinances, but there was no dollar figure available for the cost to the city during this period.
No recommendations for this finding
F25
There were no fireworks related injuries or fires in 2004, but the fire department spent $3,987 for standby crews during fireworks season.
No recommendations for this finding
F26
Confiscated fireworks had been obtained from Fillmore, Culver City, San Fernando and the Internet. Ventura
No recommendations for this finding
F27
Ventura Police Department reported 218 fireworks related calls in 2002 (112 of them on July 4th), 407 calls in 2003 (219 on July 4th), and 501 calls in 2004 (201 on July 4th).
No recommendations for this finding
F28
The fireworks season is from July 2 to July 5.
No recommendations for this finding
F29
No arrests were made and 40 citations were issued during the 2004 season.
No recommendations for this finding
F30
The police department spent $22,808 in overtime in 2004 over the 4th of July weekend.
No recommendations for this finding
F31
There were no fires or injuries attributable to fireworks in Ventura in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F32
The amount spent by the Ventura Fire Department for standby crews in 2004 was $12,789.
No recommendations for this finding
F33
Confiscated fireworks had reportedly been purchased from China, Mexico, Nevada and Fillmore. Camarillo
No recommendations for this finding
F34
The Camarillo Police Department reported 28 fireworks related calls for service in 2001, 27 calls in 2002, 59 calls in 2003 and 51 calls in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F35
The fireworks season is from July 4 to July 6.
No recommendations for this finding
F36
There were four arrests and no citations given during that time span in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F37
The police department spent $2,984 in 2004 for fireworks enforcement.
No recommendations for this finding
F38
There was one fire attributable to fireworks in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F39
Cost to the fire department covering the City of Camarillo was not received by the Grand Jury.
No recommendations for this finding
F40
Confiscated fireworks came from friends, the Palms Springs Indian Reservation and Tijuana, Mexico. Moorpark
No recommendations for this finding
F41
During the one and a half-week fireworks season, there were 32 calls for service to the police department in 2001, 38 calls in 2002, 57 calls in 2003 and 69 calls in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F42
The police reported no arrests or citations for fireworks during 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F43
The amount spent by police for enforcement of fireworks codes in 2004 was not received by the Grand Jury.
No recommendations for this finding
F44
The fire department reported an expenditure of $1,886 for standby crews in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F45
Confiscated fireworks came from “adjacent states.” Santa Paula
No recommendations for this finding
F46
The police department reported that during the approximate one-week fireworks period there were 101 related calls for service in 2001, 128 calls in 2002, 117 calls in 2003 and 205 calls in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F47
There were no arrests or citations for fireworks during 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F48
The police department was unable to determine additional police costs for this period in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F49
Santa Paula Fire Department reported no fireworks related injuries or fires in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F50
The extra cost to the fire department during 2004 was not reported to the Grand Jury.
No recommendations for this finding
F51
Confiscated fireworks reportedly came from the Internet, Arkansas and Mexico. Port Hueneme
No recommendations for this finding
F52
The police department reported that during a 2 month fireworks season there were 59 related calls for service in 2001, 11 calls in 2002, 70 calls in 2003 and 50 calls in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F53
There were no arrests and 3 citations in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F54
The police department spent approximately $500 in fireworks related expenditures in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F55
There were no injuries or fires due to fireworks in 2004. The fire department reported no extra costs for standby crews.
No recommendations for this finding
F56
Confiscated fireworks reportedly came from Fillmore, Mexico and out of state. Ojai
No recommendations for this finding
F57
From June 20th to July 18th, the Ojai Police Department received 14 fireworks related calls for service in 2001, 22 calls in 2002, 32 calls in 2003 and 24 calls in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F58
There were 2 arrests made and an unknown number of citations issued in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F59
The police reported no extra expenditures during the 2004 season.
No recommendations for this finding
F60
Information about the number of injuries and fires due to fireworks in 2004 was not received by the Grand Jury.
No recommendations for this finding
F61
The fire department spent $1,886 for standby crews in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F62
The source(s) of confiscated fireworks was not reported. Thousand Oaks
No recommendations for this finding
F63
Thousand Oaks police reported that, during the 15 days before and after July 4th, there were 136 fireworks related calls for service in 2001, 176 calls in 2002, 187 calls in 2003 and 183 calls in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F64
The number of arrests in 2004 was reported as five. The number of citations in 2004 due to fireworks was not electronically tracked via the Sheriff’s Records Management System, and the agency was unable to verify the number written.
No recommendations for this finding
F65
There were no extra expenditures by the police department in 2004 for fireworks related issues.
No recommendations for this finding
F66
The fire department’s report of the number of injuries and fires during 2004 due to fireworks was not received by the Grand Jury.
No recommendations for this finding
F67
$1,886 was spent by the fire department in 2004 for standby crews.
No recommendations for this finding
F68
The source(s) of confiscated fireworks is unknown. Conclusions C-01. In 2004 there were 2,100 calls for service during the fireworks season. The majority was reported by the City of Simi Valley, followed by the City of Ventura, the City of Oxnard and the City of Santa Paula. (F-16, F-22, F-27,
No recommendations for this finding

Conclusions 2