Police: Residents Getting The Message About Fireworks
DENVER (CBS4) - Gov. John Hickenlooper banned the use of personal fireworks June 14 and Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink banned all fireworks, including professional displays last week, with other cities canceling fireworks because of high fire concern.
But personal fireworks are still available to buy in some jurisdictions. CBS4's Jennifer Brice checked with a number of police agencies to see how many tickets they've issued for fireworks.
Denver police told us they wrote just three and in Longmont the number was two.
Police said that shows people are getting the message.
"They should have known. We've been advertising it for weeks," was how Longmont Cmdr. Jeff Satur described the situation.
One of those tickets was issued to a Longmont homeowner who ignited an elaborate display of fountains.
His neighbor Steve Bunner was not happy with the potential danger that display posed, an emotion Satur said is understandable.
"That could easily burn down a house," he said. "At a minimum burn down bushes and trees."
Longmont has also seen the number of complaints about fireworks drop, failing from 79 last year to 20 this year. Violators there face $500 in fines and could spend up to 90 days in jail.
Aurora has handled 41 complaint calls but has not issued any tickets.
In Boulder where the sheriff made it clear there would be no warnings -- only tickets -- there has been only one complaint call.
Jefferson County set up a line where people could report firework violators, and that department has received only two calls.
