ILLEGAL FIREWORKS seized in Orange County.

By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune

What appeared to be a minor revision to the city’s fireworks ordinance turned out to be somewhat controversial, but was finally approved on a 3-2 vote by the Stanton City Council.

Stanton has implemented one of the most aggressive programs to curb the use of illegal fireworks (usually airborne rockets) passing a social host ordinance making property owners – or anyone in control of property – responsible for the discharge of unlawful pyrotechnics.

Before the council was a revision of the ordinance with a “gradual fine increase based on the amount of dangerous fireworks at issue and clarifies that a fine is based on each discharge of a firework.”

For example, any person held responsible for violating the ordinance up to 10 times in a year could be fined up to $2,500. From 11 to 20 times would be faced with a $5,000 fine and 21 and over a sum of $10,000.

In the discussion that followed, city staff reported that efforts were made to educate the public about the fireworks law and the social host liability. The cost of a citywide direct mail campaign would be put at about $15,000, if implemented.

“I find it inconceivable,” said Mayor David Shawver, that it would be necessary to notify the public about such a law. “Everyone knows that [unlawful] fireworks are illegal in Stanton,” he said. He proposed adding to the revised ordinance an amendment warning that violations could be referred to the county district attorney for possible criminal prosecution.

But the majority wanted to stick with the original proposal, and a motion to that effect was approved with Shawver and Victor Barrios opposed.