You know all those fireworks you likely traveled to Indiana or Missouri to buy, so that you can shoot them off for the Fourth of July? You bought them there because you know they’re not legal in Illinois.
In fact, Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind tells WGIL the list of fireworks that ARE legal under the state’s Pyrotechnics Act is shorter than the list of fireworks that aren’t.
Snakes or…glow worm pellets are legal. Smoke devices are legal,” said Hovind. “Party poppers, snappers, those types of things, are legal. Sparklers are legal. Toy pistol caps…devices like that.”
Hovind says while sparklers are legal, they burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, so he recommends having a water bucket nearby to help put them out if something goes wrong.
Most fireworks including sparklers are also not allowed at Lake Storey Park, which means no “Big Bang Boom” prior to the actual show Thursday night at dusk.
Yes, there are fireworks laws on the books in Illinois, and fireworks ordinances also on the books in the City of Galesburg. It’s difficult for Galesburg Police, however, to enforce those ordinances, because most of the time you don’t know there’s been a violation until after an incendiary device has been set off.
But, you can help.
“Chances are, if we do not have a complainant who actually witnessed it or is willing to come forward to make a statement, if an officer didn’t see it, it is very challenging for them to even issue a citation at that moment,” said Kevin Legate, Galesburg Deputy Police Chief. “We encourage those who are making complaints, that would give a statement…to be willing to provide a witness statement to officers.”
Legate tells WGIL if officers are able to make a case out of a fireworks violation, the severity of what happens would dictate whether an officer makes it a simple city ordinance violation, or a state law violation.
