In Oceanside, a May ordinance<\/a> declared firework activity \u201ca public nuisance subject to administrative enforcement\u201d and described how drones will be deployed in response to reported illegal fireworks violations using \u201ca coordinated drone-and-ground patrol program targeting peak fireworks periods.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, property owners and social hosts can now be held responsible for violations that occur on their properties \u2014 even if they don\u2019t set off the fireworks themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n Oceanside Police Capt. Nick Nu\u00f1ez told inewsource that combining these two tactics will hopefully help law enforcement officers locate and penalize offenders better than sending a patrol car to a scene where people will simply scatter. He described past patrolling tactics as \u201cwidely unsuccessful.\u201d<\/p>\n Recent military equipment reports showed<\/a> Oceanside had 15 drones, the fifth-most among law enforcement agencies in San Diego County. Nu\u00f1ez said the department could potentially use its entire fleet.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not saying that all of them are gonna be up at the same time, but I\u2019m also not gonna say that they\u2019re not,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Violators of the fireworks ban could face fines beginning at $1,000 and increasing up to $10,000 in a calendar year for repeat occurrences. Penalties will be reduced by 50% over the program\u2019s first year to allow the community to familiarize themselves with the new regulations.<\/p>\n In Escondido, the City Council also updated<\/a> its fireworks ordinance in June to implement drone enforcement and allow for fines up to $1,000.<\/p>\n Under the new ordinance, \u201csocial hosts\u201d can be cited for violations that occur on their property, along with parents or guardians \u201cif they reasonably should have known a minor was involved in a violation,\u201d according to Police Lt. Lee Stewart.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal of these enhanced measures is not only enforcement, but also deterrence and community safety, particularly during high-risk periods,\u201d Stewart added.<\/p>\n In Carlsbad, an ordinance adopted in April also implements drone enforcement and holds \u201csocial hosts\u201d accountable.<\/p>\n The city of Carlsbad has received about 130 fireworks-related calls for service over the past two years, according to Carlsbad Police Department Public Information Officer Denise Ramirez. Many of those calls occurred in residential neighborhoods during peak holiday periods.<\/p>\n \u201cDrones can provide officers with real-time situational awareness, helping identify the location of illegal fireworks activity while allowing resources to be deployed more efficiently,\u201d Ramirez wrote to inewsource.<\/p>\n
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