July 4th Fireworks Task Force Update
Published: 07/05/2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2019
CONTACT:
Sergeant Eric Detmer
Technical Services Unit (TSU)
(951) 351-6046
JULY 4TH FIREWORKS ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE Update
RIVERSIDE, CA – During this 4th of July holiday season, The Riverside Police Department, Riverside Fire Department, and Riverside Code Enforcement teamed up to enforce illegal fireworks restrictions in the City of Riverside. All fireworks are illegal within city limits and anyone found using them can be subject to a fine of $1,000, plus disposal fees.
On Thursday, July 4, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., members of the City of Riverside’s Fireworks Task Force issued 125 citations and seized approximately 800 pounds of illegal fireworks related to those violations. So far this week, the Task Force has seized an estimated 3800 pounds of illegal fireworks.
Riverside has been working the past four years to reduce the usage of fireworks in the city. They cause injuries in adults and children, heighten fire dangers to property and homes, create stress for veterans with PTSD, and terrify many animals.
Numerous citations have been issued as a direct result of 311 mobile app service requests submitted by our residents, which gave Task Force members immediate notification of a fireworks violation. The Task Force will continue enforcing fireworks violations, and we ask the public to report any observed illegal fireworks through the City of Riverside’s 311 Call Center at (951) 825-5311, the 311 mobile app, or online at https://crmweb.riversideca.gov/.
