Police Adding Patrols to Enforce Firework Ban
By: Cassidy Hodges
Updated: June 30, 2012
"We will have several officers working over the holiday and their main job is going to be to enforce this ordinance," says Lieutenant Kevin Lewis, with the Springdale Police Department.
As mayors all across Northwest Arkansas declare firework bans, police are preparing to pacify the pyrotechnics.
"When it comes to structures getting on fire and people getting hurt because of the extreme heat and the dry conditions, it's a decision [Mayor Doug Sprouse] has to make for the betterment of the city," says Lewis.
Springdale Mayor Sprouse made the decision Thursday to ban fireworks in the city.
"Everything is just so dry."
But Lieutenant Lewis says the ban won't deter everyone.
"As soon as somebody hears it, they're going to call the police and the police are going to respond and we will be actively pursuing people who are going to be shooting off fireworks."
And if your caught in the Independence Day act, it's a Class A Misdemeanor, leaving you with a $1,000 fine or up to one year in jail.
But that's not law enforcement's greatest fear.
"If somebody does shoot off fireworks and sets something else on fire you could be looking at having more charges than just unlawful burning."
Because this year the fun and games are much more serious.
"The people who are looking at it saying, 'I still want to have my fun,' The thing is you may be turning someone else into the victim and that's why it's so serious that we cannot have this."
As mayors all across Northwest Arkansas declare firework bans, police are preparing to pacify the pyrotechnics.
"When it comes to structures getting on fire and people getting hurt because of the extreme heat and the dry conditions, it's a decision [Mayor Doug Sprouse] has to make for the betterment of the city," says Lewis.
Springdale Mayor Sprouse made the decision Thursday to ban fireworks in the city.
"Everything is just so dry."
But Lieutenant Lewis says the ban won't deter everyone.
"As soon as somebody hears it, they're going to call the police and the police are going to respond and we will be actively pursuing people who are going to be shooting off fireworks."
And if your caught in the Independence Day act, it's a Class A Misdemeanor, leaving you with a $1,000 fine or up to one year in jail.
But that's not law enforcement's greatest fear.
"If somebody does shoot off fireworks and sets something else on fire you could be looking at having more charges than just unlawful burning."
Because this year the fun and games are much more serious.
"The people who are looking at it saying, 'I still want to have my fun,' The thing is you may be turning someone else into the victim and that's why it's so serious that we cannot have this."
