City needs to crack down on illegal fireworks

To the Editor,

Why is the city of Warwick allowing individuals to set off illegal fireworks every 4th of July without arrests being made?

Why aren’t officers enforcing Rhode Island state law and arresting individuals, and why has the city tolerated this while other cities have at least tried to enforce Rhode Island illegal fireworks laws?

According to the Public Access process, Warwick has only made one arrest regarding illegal fireworks in the previous ten years while cities like Providence and Pawtucket combined arrested over 40 people in that same period.

In the meantime, Warwick has penalties if we have property with grass eight inches in height or more. If we feed birds the wrong way, we can be fined up to $500.00.

Are we more concerned about feeding birds and tall grass than we are about what seniors, veterans, disabled veterans, individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder go through with the use of illegal fireworks in residential areas?

Where does it say that we must allow incendiary devices to be used in neighborhoods just because it’s 4th of July? Yes, some illegal fireworks are considered to be incendiary devices.

In addition to the suffering that humans go through, we know that more pets go missing during the 4th of July than any other calendar day.

Although there is a Rhode Island state law regarding illegal fireworks, we need specific language in Warwick’s ordinance addressing the issue; Consequently, I am asking the entire Warwick City Council to enact language that will address the issue for residential zoned areas; namely, “No person shall offer for sale at retail or at wholesale, shall possess or have under his or her control, use or explode, or cause to explode for exhibition or amusement, display fireworks or aerial consumer fireworks as defined in Rhode Island state law in Warwick’s residential zones. The authority to enforce this ordinance is vested in the Warwick Police Department. That authority would include arrest and confiscation of illegal fireworks.”

Dennis Tabella

Warwick, RI