Dear Resident -
Last night residents enjoyed a night of celebrating American Independence and an exceptional fireworks display in Montgomery Township (Flickr album link below this article).
With the holiday weekend ahead, Montgomery Township Police would like to share an informative reminder about NJ Fireworks Laws from the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Office of Safety Compliance:
Every year, hospital emergency room staffers treat injuries resulting from the use of fireworks. I would like to acquaint you with New Jersey's Fireworks Laws, including some updates to the rules this year.
New Jersey's laws on fireworks are very restrictive. In some states, fireworks are permitted to be sold to and used by the public. However, in New Jersey, no exploding fireworks are legal and they are contraband when brought over the State line.
Due to a newly enacted law, the sale
to those 16 and older
of certain non-exploding fireworks such as sparkling devices and novelty items such as party poppers, snappers, drop pops and paper or plastic caps for use in toy guns is now legal in NJ.
HOWEVER, the sale or use of exploding devices such as firecrackers, roman candles, sky rockets, bottle rockets, etc., is still illegal in this state and carries heavy fines.
For more, see Assembly Bill S-3034
here
and NJ.Com article
here
.
The only fireworks that can legally be sold and used in New Jersey are sparklers and novelty items, as per above. (Such items can easily cause burns and should be used with caution and always with adult supervision of children.) If you have any doubt when speaking with a salesperson, call the NJ Officer of Public Safety Compliance at (609) 292-2096 for verification.
The Fireworks Laws are jointly enforced by municipalities and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The law states that the sale or possession of fireworks, with intent to sell, is a crime of the fourth degree. Any person found guilty of possessing fireworks with the intention of selling them, can be fined up to $7,500 and/or imprisoned up to 18 months. Any person found using fireworks illegally can be fined up to $500 and/or imprisoned for up to 30 days.
If you have any questions or comments about the Fireworks Laws, feel free to contact the Office of Public Safety Compliance at (609) 292-2096 or the Police Dept. administrative line at (908) 874-3333. In an emergency dial 9-1-1 or (908) 359-3222.
Be wise this holiday weekend and leave the fireworks to the expert companies hired to do legal displays. Again, while exploding fireworks may be legally purchased in other states, they are contraband once you cross back into New Jersey. Our laws are strict in New Jersey but they are intended to prevent life-threatening bodily injuries and harm.
Be safe,
Captain Thomas Wain, Director
Montgomery Township Police Dept.
