Crime & Safety
West Bloomfield Moves to Regulate Fireworks Use
While new state law opens doors for sale of fireworks in West Bloomfield, ordinance amendment regulates use of fireworks.
It isn’t a question of whether West Bloomfield will allow fireworks sales this summer, but rather an issue of when you can ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks.
According to the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1 of this year, "A local unit of government shall not enact or enforce an ordinance, code, or regulation pertaining to or in any manner regulating the sale, display, storage, transportation, or distribution of fireworks regulated under this act."
However, a local unit of government may regulate the ignition, discharge and use of consumer fireworks.
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With July 4 quickly approaching, the Township Board on Monday passed a new fireworks ordinance as part of the consent agenda. The ordinance prohibits the use of consumer fireworks on any day other than the day before, day of, and day after a national holiday.
National holidays are: New Year’s Eve, Martin Luther King Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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The new ordinance (PDF) will also prohibit the use of consumer fireworks in public, schools, churches, or private property not owned by the user without written permission from the property owner. Consumer fireworks do not include ground and handheld sparkling devices.
Violators of the new fireworks ordinance may be fined up to $500.
On May 14, the township approved permits for six fireworks displays set to take place in the township over the next two months, including one public show at Union Lake July 3.
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