A current Long Beach city ordinance states, excluding permission of the city council and fire commissioner, “No person shall discharge or use any firearms, rockets, torpedoes, Roman candles or other explosives in any of the streets, highways, boardwalk, beach or public places within the city. The sale of fireworks at retail in the city is prohibited.”
At the June 2 Long Beach City Council meeting, the maximum penalty for violating the law — which has been in place since July 1972 — rose from $250 to $15,000. Council members passed the amendment with a unanimous vote, explaining that the massive potential fine now mirrors the potential damage and injury that unregulated fireworks can be associated with.
“One of the top complaints that we receive here at City Hall is certainly fireworks,” said City Councilman Michael Reinhart. “With this resolution, we intend to put the penalty higher on people that sell and illegally discharge these fireworks.”
Police Commissioner Richard DePalma reminded the public that anyone discharging fireworks that result in physical injury would certainly be charged with a violation. DePalma also stated that LBPD will maximize enforcement, which they do each year, by deploying additional patrols on the beach as the Fourth of July approaches.
City Councilwoman Tracey Johnson highlighted a more straightforward effect of the increased regulation. “Most of us are parents, pet owners, taking care of elderly. These large mortars are going off all hours of the night, so also, besides the charges and the danger, it’s a quality of life issue.”