Auburn Police Department Wants You to Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July

July 4th weekend is here and the Auburn Police Department wants the people of Auburn to enjoy a happy and safe 4th of July.  Many people enjoy time with family to celebrate Independence Day.  Leading up to and for weeks after many individuals purchase and set off fireworks.

Over the years laws have changed, but keep in mind what are legal and illegal fireworks:

It is illegal to buy or set off any of the following anywhere in the state unless you have a permit:

• Firecrackers (includes M-80 style), bottle rockets, roman candles, spinners, and any other type of firework that goes up in the air.

Legal fireworks include:

• Sparklers and other devices: The law defines sparklers as devices that produce colored sparks or a colored flame, make a whistling or crackling noise, and give off smoke; that means sparklers on wooden (not metal) sticks, cylindrical and cone-shaped sparkling fountains, snakes, party poppers filled with confetti, snappers wrapped in paper, and smoking devices.

Also, please be aware of and sensitive to the needs of your neighbors and keep in mind that fireworks devices can have a traumatic effect on pets, our military veterans suffering from PTSD and people that suffer from anxiety or panic attacks.

This year the Auburn Police Department is taking a proactive approach when it comes to illegal fireworks. Members of our department will be out to enforce the laws regarding the possession and use of illegal fireworks. Those found using illegal fireworks will be charged and charges can include:

• any  person who shall possess, use, explode or cause to explode  any fireworks or dangerous fireworks is guilty of a violation;
• any person who shall offer or expose for sale,  sell  or  furnish, any fireworks or dangerous fireworks is guilty of a class B misdemeanor

Have a happy and Safe 4th of July weekend.