LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Las Vegas Metro Police are explaining their illegal firework enforcement efforts after confiscating 2.5 tons of illegal fireworks over the weekend.
“You can’t control what goes up in the air 50 feet, and when it explodes, and what comes down as a result of that explosion,” said Captain Jonathan Riddle who is overseeing LVMPD’s Firework Interdiction and Prevention plan.
The 2.5 tons of illegal fireworks fill a storage container located in an undisclosed location. There, they will be kept safe so they cannot accidentally go off, and are being treated as evidence.
On top of the confiscations, Riddle said they’ve issued roughly 60 citations, with fines ranging from $500 from $10,000.
To do this, Riddle said they’ve established points strategically throughout the Las Vegas Valley to surveil people as they attempt to bring illegal fireworks into Clark County.
“We have a plan in place where we know which of these cars have illegal fireworks in them,” he said.
They also have officers patrolling to check on anyone lighting off early.
Then, come July 4, Riddle said officers will extend their shifts so they can respond to calls for service.
Anyone who sees illegal fireworks in action is asked to call 311.
Another option, people can report them online at Ispyfireworks.com. Although police will not be dispatched, Clark County Fire Inspector, Martin Casillas, said the calls are collected and used as a guide for next year’s holiday.
“So, if we get hundreds of complaints here, it’ll show up very red on the map, and it’ll kind of direct some of the hotspot areas for us to try and direct some effort,” Casillas said.
Casillas said this year, they’ll also have fire inspectors in the field assisting Metro Police with their confiscations.
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