Should Quincy and Illinois Legalize Fireworks in City Limits?

Independence Day has passed and the firing of 4^th of July fireworks has ended, or has it.  Again last night around 11 p.m., I heard another round of “booms” from illegally discharged fireworks, almost two weeks after the holiday. When is it going to stop?

Every year Americans celebrate the birth of our nation with fireworks displays. Some are legal and some are not depending where you live. In Illinois illegal fireworks include firecrackers, bottle rockets, cones, roman candles, sky lanterns/aerial luminaries, etc.

Anyone violating the state statute or city ordinance concerning fireworks is subject to citation and fine.  Fireworks that are legal in Illinois include snakes, smoke bombs, sparklers, party poppers, and snappers.  Legal or not, people are still discharging them. It is almost impossible for police to enforce this law.

For dog owners and people who need to get up early for work the next day this is more than just an annoyance. Perhaps a compromise needs to be constructed to accommodate everyone involved. So here is my thought!

Why not revise the law or ordinance to allow for the discharge what is now illegal fireworks, but only between the hours of 9 p.m. and midnight and only on the 4^th of July? It seems to be what people want to do.  In doing so, dog owners and people who need to get up early will be aware of the three-hour time frame and can deal with it.

I realize that there will be those who will not abide by this option and for them will come steep fines for noise violations if caught by law enforcement personnel.

This proposal gives people the legal right to fire off previously off-limits fireworks in Illinois and a secure window to do so.  It won’t make everyone happy, but it is a start. With this plan, perhaps I would have to hear “late” fireworks tonight.

Thoughts?