THE IDEA of offering financial rewards for turning in users of illegal fireworks was raised at Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council (Shutterstock).
By Jim Tortolano
The possibility of offering financial rewards to people turning in users of illegal fireworks was raised at Tuesday’s meeting of the Garden Grove City Council.
At a report at the beginning of the meeting, council members were told that 75 administrative citations were issued by police on July 4 to people discharging pyrotechnics other than the sanctioned “safe and sane” variety.
“Seventy five citations,” said Councilmember George Brietigam of District 1 (West Grove). ‘That ain’t getting it.”
Brietigam suggested that one way to crack down on the problem was to offer rewards of $250 to $500 to residents reporting others using illegal fireworks. Video footage could be employed if the perpetrators could be identified.
City Attorney Omar Sandoval told the council the city did have the power to offer rewards.
Police chief Tom DaRe told the council that there was less illegal fireworks activity in the days leading up to Independence Day, but more on July 4. Police received 284 fireworks calls.
Additionally, there were seven dumpster fires related to fireworks, and two persons injured and hospitalized with burns, one on his hand and another to the face.
Also on Tuesday, the council voted 6-1 to appoint Councilmember John O’Neill as Garden Grove’s representative to the Orange County Fire Authority.
Councilmember Phat Bui challenged Mayor Steve Jones’ nomination of O’Neill, wanting the post for himself, but was outvoted.