Truesdale city leaders are considering a reduction in the number of days residents are legally allowed to shoot fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday week.

Truesdale currently has one of the most lenient fireworks ordinances among local cities, allowing 10 days of shooting from July 1 to July 10. Aldermen have reworked the ordinance multiple times in recent years, with the intention of allowing two weekends for residents to plan Fourth of July celebrations.

But since making those changes, city leaders said they’ve received feedback that the amount of time for fireworks is excessive.

“A lot of residents in my neighborhood (have expressed) issues with fireworks lasting 10 days,” commented Mayor Chris Watson during a June 9 public discussion.

The board of aldermen is now considering cutting the number of days for fireworks in half, with a five-day window starting July 2 and ending July 6. Even with that narrower window, Truesdale would still have one of the more generous fireworks policies in the area. 

“I wouldn’t have a problem cutting it back. Most people are off on the Fourth of July anyway,” said Alderman Mike Thomas.

“If you cut it from 10 days to five ... and have two days on either side of the Fourth, you’ll usually have at least one weekend day you can shoot off fireworks. That would seem reasonable,” added Alderman Jerry Cannon.

Times for shooting fireworks would remain the same, starting at 10 a.m. and ending at either 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., depending on the day.

An ordinance to set the new days for allowable fireworks was scheduled to be voted on at the board of aldermen’s June 23 public meeting.

Rule breakers

Even if Truesdale narrows the number of days for fireworks, aldermen were skeptical that will resolve all complaints. Part of the problem now is people who shoot fireworks outside of the broader 10-day window.

“You have people who start before the first, and then they carry on with them through the entire month of July,” one resident complained to the board.

Alderman Robert Green agreed, noting also that rulebreakers tend to shoot fireworks later at night than allowed, causing a disturbance for people who have to sleep and go to work the next day.

“We might give the ordinance a little more teeth so (police) can go after a little bigger of a fine,” Alderman Thomas suggested.

Police Chief Casey Doyle said a typical fine for violating the fireworks ordinance would be around $25. But he said fines can be increased depending on circumstance, up to a maximum of $500.

“Ten days is a pretty generous amount of time. (But) there are people who are just not going to abide by those rules and do their own thing,” Doyle commented. “If we encounter those violations ... we can certainly request that be a higher fine if it’s outside of that 10 days.”

Doyle said residents are welcome to report anytime they have a concern about someone violating the fireworks ordinance.