Law enforcement officials are reminding city residents to be safe and follow the law when it comes to discharging fireworks for the Fourth of July. Port Huron’s current ordinance states that fireworks can only be set off the day before, the day of, and the day after a national holiday. Sergeant Doug Decker of the Port Huron Police Department also says fireworks cannot be discharged between the hours of 1am and 8am and that you have to be on private property. That means you cannot use fireworks in public places such as parks, apartment buildings, and churches. Violators of Port Huron’s fireworks ordinance could face a $500 fine. It is also illegal to discharge fireworks if you are intoxicated, resulting in a misdemeanor and another $500 dollar fine. Decker says it may be a better idea to leave fireworks to the professionals and take in one of the many fireworks displays put on by area communities. Port Huron City Council is in the process of revising the city’s fireworks ordinance, which would set an 11:45pm cutoff time for fireworks celebrations on most holidays. However that ordinance is not expected to be enacted until after the holiday weekend.
