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Are your fireworks illegal? When can you use legal ones?

By STEVE E. SWENSON, Californian staff writer
e-mail:sswenson@bakersfield.com | Tuesday, Jul 1 2008 2:42 PM

Last Updated: Thursday, Jul 3 2008 7:17 AM

Thirty teams of Bakersfield firefighters will be out in force the next several days, to crack down on illegal fireworks and people setting off fireworks outside of approved time periods.

Battalion Chief Garth Milam warned that while whistling fireworks such as Piccolo Petes and ground bloom-type fireworks are legal in some parts of the county, they are illegal within city limits.

Those kinds of fireworks can be altered to make explosive devices, he said. Altering fireworks is a felony, punishable by up to three years in prison.

Possessing aerial fireworks, such as bottle rockets or mortars, is a misdemeanor, but if those fireworks cause harm to a person or burn a building, the crime gets elevated to a felony.

People may report violations by calling a special hot line at 868-6070.

Milam said a safe alternative to street fireworks is a licensed show at Bakersfield College, some country clubs and other venues. They have legal aerial fireworks set off by professionals in a controlled setting.

WHAT'S ILLEGAL?

Anything that shoots into the air, such as bottle rockets or mortars.

Piccolo Petes and ground blooms are legal in much of the unincorporated areas but not in the city limits.

Any firework that has been altered to make an explosive device.

WHEN CAN I SHOOT OFF MY FIREWORKS?

July 1: Noon to midnight

July 2 and 3: 9 a.m. to midnight

July 4: 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

BAKERSFIELD ENFORCEMENT IN RECENT YEARS

2006: July 1, 9 citations. July 2, 3 citations. July 3, 9 citations; July 4, 63 citations.

2007: July 3, 4 citations. July 4, 61 citations. July 5, 5 citations.