A proposed ordinance would reduce the number of days to ignite fireworks legally around the Fourth of July in unincorporated Pierce County from eight to one: the holiday itself.
Pierce County Council member Dick Muri said he’s proposing the cut for the public’s peace of mind and to protect animals.
“It’s supposed to be an Independence Day celebration,” Muri said. “That’s the reason we allow fireworks.”
Muri said there’s no support among council members for a total ban on fireworks.
“They have made legitimate quips to me about allowing people to celebrate our Independence Day,” Muri said.
In the unincorporated county, “safe and sane” fireworks are legal for at least 11 hours each day from June 28 through July 5.
The longest period is from 9 a.m.-midnight July 4. Muri’s ordinance reduces the Independence Day hours to noon-midnight.
“Why anyone believes they need to be discharging fireworks before noon is a mystery to me,” Muri said.
He said the top fireworks concern he hears from residents is how the noise upsets their pets, making them erratic and shaky. The booms also upset the sleep patterns of young children who normally go to bed early, Muri said.
The change would affect the estimated 372,110 people who live in unincorporated Pierce County, as far west as Key Peninsula and as far east as the Mount Rainier foothills.
The ordinance will face several public hearings, starting today, before the Pierce County Council makes a final decision in February.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ed Troyer said it will require law enforcement personnel along with laws to curtail fireworks use.
“Right now, we’re hurting for resources,” Troyer said. “Pretty much we know that fireworks laws are ignored everywhere. It’s one of our busiest times of year.”
Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor and Prosecutor Mark Lindquist are expected to address the proposed cutback at 1:30 p.m. today before the council’s public safety and human services committee.
The range of local fireworks rules already vary and are confusing. Steilacoom banned them on the Fourth of July for the first time this year, joining Tacoma and a handful of other cities with outright bans. In Lakewood, they’re legal for 12 hours a day from July 3-5.
After hearing the blasts last Fourth of July, Muri heard an earful from some of his constituents about fireworks. He described the Steilacoom-Lakewood area as a “war zone.”
Those complaints prompted him to pursue a change. He said he’s hearing from the public that his proposal is “a nice step in the right direction.”
“It is my hope that if we limit the use of fireworks to a 12-hour period on Independence Day, and enforce that limited 12-hour period, we will have satisfied a majority of citizen concerns,” Muri said.
He said the public safety committee may hold another hearing Nov. 14.
“I want this thing fully vetted,” said Muri, who chairs the committee.
The council introduced his ordinance Tuesday.
Setting off fireworks illegally would continue to be a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
The proposed ordinance says the discharge of fireworks “creates both noise and safety concerns” and notes that many local jurisdictions have banned fireworks.
The measure makes a point of “recognizing the desire of Pierce County citizens to celebrate Independence Day by discharging fireworks.”
As a result, it says: “It is reasonable to restrict the day when fireworks may be discharged in unincorporated Pierce County to July 4 only.”
Steve Maynard: 253-597-8647 steve.maynard@thenewstribune.com
hearing today
WHAT: Public hearing on reducing when fireworks could legally be set off in unincorporated Pierce County from eight days to one: noon-midnight July 4.
WHEN: 1:30 p.m. today.
WHO: Public Safety and Human Services Committee.
WHERE: Pierce County Council Chambers in the County-City Building, 930 Tacoma Ave. S., Room 1045.
MORE INFO: tinyurl.com/3oma2gq.
current rules
When “safe and sane” fireworks currently can legally be set off in unincorporated Pierce County:
June 28: Noon-11 p.m.
June 29 through July 3: 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
July 4: 9 a.m.-midnight.
July 5: 9 a.m.-11 p.m.
Steve Maynard, staff writer
