The sale and use of aerial fireworks recently has been legalized in the state of Michigan, leaving some cities celebrating, and others worried about the safety of their residents. But in East Lansing, a recent city ordinance now is defining when and where residents can use fireworks, if at all.
Ordinance No. 1283 was passed by the East Lansing City Council last week and is effective beginning today. According to the city of East Lansing’s website, the ordinance “prohibits the ignition, discharge and use of consumer fireworks except on the day preceding, the day of and the day after a national holiday in East Lansing.” The ordinance refers to consumer fireworks as those that “explode and/or leave the ground,” but low-impact fireworks, such as the popular sparklers, snakes and smoke bombs, are not illegal under the ordinance.
A violation of this ordinance could result in up to a $500 fine and 90 days in jail.
Many other communities in Michigan have passed similar ordinances banning the widespread, frequent use of fireworks. Yet the recently passed state law legalizing these fireworks prohibits communities from banning fireworks the day before, the day of and the day after a national holiday.
What is most important now for the city is to spread word of this ordinance, making it known to the community, as many residents only are familiar with the state law that allows the use of aerial fireworks, and might be unaware the city has banned them on certain days.
Although the ordinance went into effect today, the city should allow a few weeks of adjusting for the community before it begins issuing violations. The cold weather and schoolwork probably are deterring most students from using fireworks in recent weeks, especially compared to the summer months in East Lansing. But those who choose to celebrate a possible football victory this homecoming weekend by shooting off fireworks only should be issued warnings. As warnings are issued to violators, word will spread across the community about the new ordinance.
This ordinance could be disappointing to those who use fireworks frequently, but will increase the safety of East Lansing and MSU students and will decrease the number of noise complaints the East Lansing Police Department, or ELPD, receives weekly, as the number has more than doubled during the past few years. According to the city’s website, ELPD received 94 firework complaint calls from Jan. 1 to Sept. 5, compared with only 42 complaints in 2011 and 38 in 2010.
Many students and East Lansing residents want to celebrate, sometimes with fireworks, for various reasons, but they have to be mindful of their neighbors’ requests as well.
And with the state law prohibiting cities from banning firework use the days around holidays, many celebrations such as the Fourth of July and New Year’s Day still can be observed with the use of aerial fireworks.
Ordinance No. 1283 might be displeasing to some East Lansing residents, but ultimately could help keep the community safe from firework-related accidents and promote the well-being of residents. And with use still legal on holidays, fireworks will continue to light up East Lansing’s sky.
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