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County, cities plan to target fireworks
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More from County NewsPolice and fire officials are increasing enforcement efforts to crack down on illegal fireworks activities in Ventura County today.
Officials said they are concerned that fireworks could cause fires because of dry weather and drought conditions in the county.
"We really want to keep a cap on the fireworks situation," said Capt. Jerry Hernandez, a spokesman for the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
The department's extra officers today will include three sergeants and eight deputies, Hernandez said.
In Moorpark, the department will man the streets with two extra patrol cars and a two-person bike patrol, he said.
With the exception of Fillmore — which allows sales, possession and use of "safe and sane" fireworks within city limits for one week every year — possessing, selling or using any fireworks in the county is illegal.
Extra officers also will be put on the streets to handle several events occurring throughout the county today.
Officials reported that, at least by Tuesday, the number of calls and citations related to illegal fireworks had been low.
From Friday through Monday, Simi Valley received 32 calls and issued one citation, Sgt. Karl Becker said.
Fourteen officers, split into teams of two, will aim to crack down on illegal fireworks today, he said.
About 20 officers will provide security and traffic control for an event in the city, he said.
"We're all really concerned about the lack of rainfall" and the danger fireworks pose in hot weather, Becker added.
Officials from Santa Paula reported Monday that illegal fireworks activities were "fairly light" over the weekend.
Three groups of two — a city officer and firefighter — patrolled city streets over the weekend.
No numbers were available on how many citations were issued over the weekend, but six calls regarding illegal fireworks were received, Police Chief Stephen MacKinnon said Tuesday.
Santa Paula officials will increase efforts today by putting an extra fire engine on the streets, Fire Chief Rick Araiza said Monday.
Araiza stressed that even safe and sane fireworks, which are labeled by the state fire marshal, are illegal in Santa Paula.
"Most of the public is under the wrong impression that safe and sane is safe and sane," Araiza added. "Safe and sane is not really safe to us. They're only as safe as the individual using them."
In Oxnard, the number of officers on the streets will double.
Although he did not have exact numbers, Oxnard Police Department spokesman David Keith said the department has received several calls reporting use of illegal fireworks.
— Staff writer Adam Foxman contributed to this report.
Posted by AnaCapa on July 4, 2007 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Apparently, there is a $1,000 dollar fine for those caught setting off fireworks. Are the police writing tickets? There are fireworks going off constantly in my neighborhood. Police should step up patrols in the weeks leading up to the 4th and weeks after.
Posted by Sweets on July 4, 2007 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lowlife you are just flat our mean! "Nothing personal but your HOPE your kids are also injured!" Just remember KARMA can be pretty mean, dont take it personal when it happens to you!
Posted by hogueiette on July 4, 2007 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
stewie, I respect your opinion and I miss the days when I was young and we could do this, however it has nothing to do with being patriotic, it has to do with safety, kids loosing hands or their eye sight. The fact that we are also in a red flag warning situation, so I don't know about you, but I don't want to see our hill sides go up in flames. There are signs around the city warning of the price of a citation, plus last night I received a call at my home reminding that the fireworks are illegal in Ventura (I suspect they used the VTUSD all call system, so unfortunately only parents of VTUSD kids got the reminder). I think the only way we can stop this is for us to be the help for the police, ask your neighbors not to use the fireworks and remind them why. All the police departments in this county are overworked today and each officer can only be in so many places at once. When you see an officer or fire fighter today, thank them for their hard work and remember this is for our safety.
Posted by imbetnonit on July 4, 2007 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad lowlife is right. We try to protect stupid people from themselves, but some people are just too stupid to see that. My neighborhood is home to alot of these "special" people.
Posted by prgmrblu on July 4, 2007 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Get a grip people. It's July 4. For generations it has been about families, hotdogs, hamburgers, apple pies, flags, and fireworks.
The gov't has done thier part and taken away the fun. Outlawing instead of restricting the areas of use for even Safe and Sane fireworks has made it so that many people just don't get to participate. It's rediculaous.
Do they really think a whole city (like the 120k plus people in Simi) can fit in one park? If you do not get there at 8 am and live through the heat stroke of the day you won't even get a spot. It has made it so that my family cannot participate...I have family members that cannot handle the heat or the crowds.
Funny, I have lived quite a few years with fireworks the whole time I was growing up...I still have all my fingers and never managed to set the house on fire. What used to be a family/nieghborhood get together with a little fun in the street in front of the house has been ruined. Now it's everyone locking themselves in the house and not bothering. They have really ruined the holiday for my family.
There is no reason why cities can't be reasonable and allow safe and sanes within city limits and so far away from the open land (the real fire danger). Then go after the folks shooting the big ones in the air.
Last year a friend of my Daughter's got to go to court for a sparkler....now that's my tax dollars at work.
They have again saved people from themselves and instead of controlling the problem have actually exacerbated it as usual. It's become about the money...they get money to have the community show and money from the tickets (and money if they charge and entrance fee).
Posted by icedmadness on July 4, 2007 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Speeding is illegal and I'm sure every one here that has complained about fireworks speeds while driving. How many of you have driven after having a few drinks? No one says "all people that speed and drink should get in a car crash and they should break their neck and their baby should be thrown out of the car."
Every one needs to lighten up. I don't see why every one is trying to take the fun out of this day. I mean really if you don't like it, then go somewhere where they don't celebrate Independence Day.
I lived here for 23 years and I remember waking up at 3am to watch the fireworks at The Pier, for free. Now the city is trying to cash in on every body and their families. The city is just trying to make every one pay to go see some crappy, crowded fireworks show.
Posted by prgmrblu on July 4, 2007 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately being an American used to mean freedom and not oppression. Isn't that what the 4th of July is about?
Every wonderful memory I have of holidays is with my family not my family and 100,000 other people. I refuse to be forced into spending hours in 100+ degree weather with the only available food and drink provided by over priced vendors....Thus we no longer need to bother to celebrate Freedom becuase it is not longer available to us.
Give the law makers an inch they will take a mile. Laws can be reasonable without going too far but in this counrty anymore the minority wins of the majority. And stuipd law suits prvail and ruin it for everyone. If no one is making money...make it illegal!
How will you feel when they outlaw your BBQ for emmissions or the danger of fire? Or the pool in your yard because people drown? Think that is far fetched? Don't be too sure.
If you have troubles with being responsible for your own actions or if you can't read the 1 million stupid warnings lawyers have put on every package you should just bubblewrap yourself.
Posted by prgmrblu on July 4, 2007 at 2:11 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by prgmrblu on July 4, 2007 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW OxnardResident -- The ban on fireworks is not a Federal Law (your reference to "this country's laws")...It is a county and/or city imposed law ONLY.
Posted by lrgvanman on July 4, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lowlife does have a good point, if you aren't a lawbreaker.
Posted by insanevictor on July 4, 2007 at 10:56 p.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
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