Sparklers = $2,500 and a year in jail
By Brian Kirwin | Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 | Catch-AllRemember sparklers? Little metal rods that spark when lit?
Sparklers can be big money, especially if you don’t turn them over to police this weekend. Sparklers are illegal in every city in Hampton Roads except Hampton. Get caught lighting them, and it’s a Class 1 misdemeanor. That’s up to a year and $2,500 for the thrill of sparks.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that seven checkpoints will be set up in Virginia Beach alone. Last year, 850 pounds of fireworks were captured by police.
Gangs? Robberies? Murders? Those measly crimes can wait, I guess. It’s fireworks on the 4th of July that are the menace.
Ever drive around this fair neck of the woods at anytime after midnight? 3000 pounds of car unmistakeably driven by people who spent hours in a bar and stayed completely sober.
But sparklers are dangerous.
Warner Athey commented on the story, saying:
“Maybe if the British had confiscated all rockets and explosives and anything that could start a fire, we wouldn’t have to worry about this Fourth of July thing.”
It’s about safety, they say. Fireworks can do a lot of damage…even sparklers. “A lot of people think they’re innocent,” said Battalion Chief Tim Riley, “but really, it’s burning metal.”
The city says they’re responding to citizen complaints. So, I ask you, Bearing Drift readers. Is this government reaching way beyond normality, or is this a responsive city protecting lives and property?
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
Comments
9 Responses to "Sparklers = $2,500 and a year in jail"
It’s a ridiculous overreach and a massive over-hyping of the dangers involved. I’m not saying they can’t possibly cause injuries (we all know they can) but if the dangers were as clear, present, and plentiful as they’re saying, none of we who grew up in the 60′s and 70′s would have survived to blog about it.
Stack up the people injured by sparklers against those whose health is destroyed or are killed by cigarettes – clear and present dangers if ever there were any – and ask why we aren’t hitting up people for $2500 every time they light up?
This was no doubt caused by some hysterical “Mothers Against….” type group.
It’s our patriotic right as Americans to consume vast quantities of fatty food and blow up stuff in the backyard on the 4th of July.
How can a state that, rightly so in my opinion, resists regulating handguns justify these t ype of penalties for fireworks?
I’d suspect this is a situation where Democrats and Republicans in the legislature worked together to create a bipartisan mess.
When I was a kid, sparklers were sold at every store in town. They were the only thing we were allowed to play with on the 4th. Of course, there were hardly any organized fireworks in those days. Seeing the article today took me back to those fun times.
Honestly, I don’t remember anyone ever getting hurt, although there always seemed to be reports of it happening elsewhere. Maybe our sparklers were kid-proof
Or maybe it was the watchful eyes of the parents.
Ah those were the days.
Kids today won’t have those memories.
Sometimes the government tries too hard to be parents. This is one of those times.
Yeah, let me add my voice to those who complain about the nanny government.
Gasp, even Vivian Paige agrees on this one.
I don’t think this is a state wide thing – the article clearly seemed to indicate that it was just the cities in Hampton Roads. Which based on the number of fireworks for sale displays I saw while traveling out in the western part of the state last week is probably very accurate. That said, I am a transplant from the northeast, were all fire works (including sparklers and fire crackers and all of that) are illegal without a permit – period, so I have no childhood tradition of sparklers on the 4th of July. However, I do agree that it is really none of the city’s business, with the exception of the potential that fireworks have to start brush fires, that is the city’s and your neighbors business.
You can be sure they’ll collect on that $2500. Probably won’t get any time. I don’t care though, I’m lighting off some fireworks. Going to NC on Saturday to get some
This is all un-American BS forced on us by control freak politicians that don’t grasp the concept of freedom. We should take it to the ballot box.
To all those that continually try to screw up a good thing:
You suck!
The Washington Times has a great editorial on the topic today.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/03/rockets-red-scare/
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