Although the Fourth of July fireworks are over, firework celebrations this summer are not!
Earlier this week, 6 News spoke with Officer Sean Kisel with the Richland Township Police Department who says according to state law - fireworks can be set off until 1 a.m. this weekend.
“We just follow with state statute as to the fireworks laws,” said Officer Kisel.
And because of this state firework law, it would not be uncommon to hear fireworks around our region into the early morning hours Friday and Saturday.
“We follow House Bill 2157 which was enacted last year in 2022 and it states that fireworks are permitted to be set off to 1 a.m. on the Fourth of July and proceeding weekend,” added Kisel.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, this is because the Fourth of July was celebrated on a Tuesday.
As we reported earlier this week, some who are not aware of this law could accuse this weekends fireworks as gun shots.
“If you hear the noise, a lot of the times you can differentiate whether or not its single shots, rapid shots or if its fireworks going up and exploding or firecrackers,” said Kisel. “We'll complete our investigation, determine if it is fireworks or gun shots. On the Fourth of July it more than likely is fireworks.”
Officer Kisel also tells 6 News some things to keep in mind if setting off fireworks this weekend is you have to be 150 feet away from a structure, “You cant have; whosever igniting the fireworks cannot be intoxicated at the time and they also have to be over 18 years of age.”
The next time we may legally hear fireworks going off at an hour like 1 a.m. would be on December 31st, New Years Eve.
ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfm7azsdaoqaSrXZa5rbvWnptmrZ6ptq15kGaYpmWknba0edaenKSdnpl6oq%2FCqKmdoZ6cerW7jKmcp6ajrrm3rc2imGarpJbBpnnLmq4%3D