Xtreme Fireworks and Phantom Fireworks might be in Caledonia’s zip code, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s okay to buy their fireworks and light them off in your backyard.
“The problem is that Caledonia has a zip code west of the interstate, and they’re in it. But they’re technically in the Town of Raymond,” said Caledonia Police Chief E. Toby Schey with a sigh. “That’s been an issue ever since they opened.”
Of course, the larger issue is that the “permits” issued by Xtreme Fireworks (2720 West 5 Mile Rd.) and Phantom (2832 Hwy. G) apply to the Town of Raymond only. They certainly don’t permit you to buy a Mega box and fill the night sky above Caledonia.
“Those permits are almost a scam to make money,” Schey said. “When they first opened especially, officers would go to a party and people would say, ‘But I have this permit.’ People are misled.”
In Caledonia, the only kind of fireworks that are legally allowed are things like sparklers and black snakes. Basically, if it flies into the air or explodes, it’s against the law, unless you have a professional pyrotechnic display permit.
Schey said that officers tend to issue warnings to first-time offenders, but citations are not unheard of -- and they’re not cheap: $366. So far, the Caledonia Police Department has not received a lot of complaints, but he expects that number to ramp up as the weekends get warmer.
Caledonia resident Tracy Bernhardt said she moved to Caledonia five years ago, and she was shocked by the prevalence of illegal fireworks, which are annoying to her and terrifying to her dogs.
“The past two years we've planned vacations with the dogs, specifically to get away from Caledonia the week of the Fourth of July, because it builds to a non-stop, all day, every day barrage of firecrackers and fireworks,” she said. “I find it terribly frustrating to have two dogs pacing, panting, panicking, and cowering in the basement at least once a week, if not more, throughout the summer.”
Schey said his officers will do what they can to respond to illegal fireworks complaints -- and there’s always the looming threat of that $366 citation. He’s hoping that the fact that the Fourth of July falls on a Monday will mean people might have to go to work the next day and thus will tone it down.
“However, there’s just no way you can cite everybody on the Fourth of July,” he said.
Dean
9:47 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011
FIND SOMETHING BETTER TO DO WITH POLICE TIME THAN WORRYING ABOUT FIREWORKS.
JW
11:50 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011
I realize many people are careless and dangerous with fireworks, but can there not be some middle ground here? Sparklers and snakes suck. What is so bad about lighting at least some of the small sparking fountains? Maybe a little fireworks safety course and acceptable hours from say 12pm to 10pm or something could be involved (gotta give some time when its dark). I understand that some people or animals get some disruption, but we are celebrating our country in most cases and it is fun for kids to watch. Being so far against all fireworks a touch anti-patriotic. Common sense should be involved in both crafting the laws and in the use of the fireworks. Obviously shooting off big rockets, mortars, firecrackers, and roman candles is on one extreme... but many of the little spinny or fountain ones are not much more than sparklers, in fact, in many ways a parent lighting some of these is still safer than letting their kid hold a sparkler. When laws go too far they make "crimes" out of something that should not be crimes. As a parent I pick and choose rules and priorities rather than make everything "bad"... the same should apply to laws.
Tracy Bernhardt
1:24 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
I understand the patriotism and wouldn’t mind if the nuisance was limited to one day (4th of July), but this year people in our neighborhood were celebrating EASTER with fireworks! This past Sunday (which, according to my calendar was June 5, not July 4), people in our neighborhood were on their second night of fireworks, and were in the middle of lighting off something I can only imagine must have been named “Screamer” by the way it sounded. I looked out the window and saw a terrified dog running across our busy road. Luckily he didn’t get hit. For some dogs, it truly is a nightmare! I don’t see how lighting off firecrackers on some random Tuesday night in May, June or August is being patriotic. Take your kids to the fireworks on the 4th of July, which is a much better demonstration of celebrating our country, and make it a special occasion! Demonstrate patriotism and how to be a law-abiding citizen.
JW
1:50 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
I understand limiting the extreme things or even addressing inappropriate times, I just think its inappropriate and overreaching for a government to take it to the level where only sparklers and snakes are allowed. There are a million different distracting or noisey things neighbors can do, even mowing the lawn too early in the morning. Generally those things do not bother me, though I understand where it might for some. I am not a fan of all the super noisey screamy things either, but it happening for special events does not bother me. How do dogs your dogs react to thunder or loud motorcycles? I definitely think it is unrealistic for everyone to not make noises due to the effect it may have on local animals. I have had both cats and dogs, and have had neither freak out to noise. But they grew up with it because I maintain a slightly a noisey household (movies with surround sound, drums, music, etc). A dog may bark at noises, but in general, but I never noticed one scared. I also remember having an aunt visit with a cat when I was young and the cat freaked out and went in hiding under a bed when I played some slightly loud music. My cats never did that, because they were used to it. An animal that is sheltered from all "sonic unpleasantries" will freak out where others that encounters noise more regularly do not. Animals have to learn to deal with some of this stuff. What about animals near a park where official fireworks go up?
Thin Blue Line
5:02 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Fountains are legal as long as they stay on the ground and "emit a shower of sparks"