[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=47915.64

Regulating Fireworks City Council's Goal

Jason Miller
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Now that the bangs and pops have ended, and the spent firecrackers and bottle-rocket sticks have been swept away, the Michigan City Common Council can get to work on shoring up a law that will regulate when and where fireworks may be used.

On July 3, the council introduced an ordinance establishing fireworks regulations in the city. The ordinance mirrors a state law passed earlier this year limiting the use of fireworks to July 4, the days just before and after July 4 and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The state law took effect in January.

Michigan City attorney Jennifer Evans said the days made legal in the ordinance simply mean residents may light off fireworks without obtaining a permit.

"It also forbids minors from releasing fireworks," she said.

According to the ordinance, fireworks can be let off from 5 p.m. to two hours after sunset from June 19 to July 3, and from July 5 to July 9. The hours on July 4 would be from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Fireworks also could be set off from 10 a.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1.

The city of LaPorte also is working on a fireworks ordinance, which was tabled at the board's last meeting. Like the Michigan City ordinance, the LaPorte document copies Indiana Code 22-11-14-5.

Unlike Michigan City's ordinance, though, LaPorte's lists a $100 fine for any violations. Michigan City's ordinance leaves the fine segment blank.

Council members last week bandied about a $300 fine, but didn't come to a consensus on whether that should be for the first offense and all fines after, or the high point on a graduated scale.

The council will discuss a possible fine scale before it reads the ordinance a second time July 17.



Contact Jason Miller at jmiller@thenewsdispatch.com

[Roger Kaputnik]

Nanny Gov!