Sioux Falls Police Plan to Enforce Firework Laws on the 4th

If you're thinking of putting on a real shock and awe fireworks display right smack dab in your neighborhood to celebrate our nation's birthday tonight, you might want want to rethink that idea.

KSFY TV is reporting the Sioux Falls Police Department plans on adding extra officers over the 4th of July holiday to deal with firework complaint calls.

Captain Loren McManus told KSFY, four additional officers will be assigned to deal exclusively with responding to fireworks calls between the hours of 6:30 PM Thursday, (July 4) through 1 AM Friday, (July 5).

According to KSFY, police have already been dealing with firework violations around the city prior to today. Could've fooled me, because Wednesday night, my block here in western Sioux Falls sounded like I was living in Baghdad in 2003.

KSFY reports that authorities so far have received 19 fireworks complaints Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Remember there is a city ordinance that bans all fireworks that have an audible report, and a projectile, or launching component. However, it is legal to use fireworks like; sparklers, and snakes within city limits.

Should one of our boys in blue witness you discharging an illegal firework within Sioux Falls city limits, he or she can issue a citation, which carries a $95 fine.

Getting a hefty violation like that over the 4th is commonly known in the pyrotechnic circles as the "Red, White, and Blue, Shame on You" package. Definitely not a fireworks fan favorite!

Source: KSFY TV