A friendly reminder: fireworks prohibited in city limits
Published 1:29 pm Thursday, July 2, 2020
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File Photo/Ivan Sanders City residents are reminded of the fireworks code that doesn't allow for shooting or selling of fireworks within the city limit.
File Photo Although it may be tempting to shoot off fireworks in city limits, the end result could be a fine and court cost if caught.
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BY BRITTNEE NAVE
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Letting freedom reign on Independence Day does not include shooting fireworks in city limits.
In the Elizabethton City limits, the sale, possession, discharge, or storage of fireworks without a special permit is illegal.
Those wishing to shoot fireworks may do so outside of city limits, as well as away from buildings, shrubbery, etc. that may harm others. Those who do not follow such laws may be subject to fines.
The public fireworks code for Elizabethton reads as follows:
7-401: Fireworks. “It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to possess, manufacture, store, distribute, offer for sale, sell at
retail, or use or explode any fireworks, including all consumer fireworks that are defined as Division 1.4G materials.”
Penalties in this code detail of around 50 dollars in fines and 50 dollars in court costs. This can be found at www.mtas.tennessee.edu/system/files/codes/elizabeth_t-7.pdf.
The prohibition of fireworks in cities is not limited to Elizabethton.
The Johnson City Police Department sent out a press release, and also detailed on their website, revealing measures to combat violations to this law and consequences doing so will pose to a person.
The JCPD press release states extra officers will be on duty looking for firework violations. In the press release, city ordinances are provided on the matter.
Ordinance 11-139 in Johnson City Municipal Code states:
(1) “It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale, or keep in stock, or give away, within the city, or one (1) mile thereof, any firecracker, cannon cracker, torpedo, Roman candle, skyrocket, pinwheel or any fireworks of any nature whatsoever, or any toy pistol or toy cannon, discharged by percussion caps by percussion caps and gunpowder or other means.”
(2) “No person shall sell, possess or use fireworks of any description within the city; provided, that this section shall not apply to wholesale dealers and jobbers who may possess fireworks for sale to merchants; provided, further, that this section shall not apply to fairs, shows, and exhibitors who desire to give fireworks displays for the amusement of the public; provided, that such displays shall be given under the joint supervision of the exhibitor and the city police department so as to protect the health and welfare of the public, but no such fireworks display shall be given without a permit from the city recorder.”
Like Johnson City and Elizabethton, fireworks in Bristol and Kingsport city limits are also prohibited.
Before shooting fireworks, remember to be out of city limits and also following basic safety guidelines when doing so. If you are in a different city than those mentioned, be sure to check out city websites and local police department websites for updates on city ordinances in relation to fireworks.
