July 4 Illegal Fireworks Warning: MA State, Local Police

DANVERS, MA — State police and many local departments are warning residents of stiff fines and seizures if they are caught using illegal fireworks this July 4 weekend.

The crackdown comes two years after illegal firework use around Independence Day boiled over at the onset of the COVID-19 health crisis in 2020. While some allowances may have been made then given the circumstances, those are no more in many Massachusetts communities that are cracking down on private fireworks use across the state.

"The (state Department of Fire Services) and Massachusetts State Police continued fireworks interdiction with seizures of these and numerous other items over the last few days," State police said Friday morning. "Troopers have issued summonses to more than 30 people who transported fireworks into Massachusetts, where they are illegal to possess and the cause of many fires."

State police said last Friday that troopers from the Department's Division of Investigative Services and Firearms and Explosives Investigation Unit stopped "several" vehicles with drivers who purchased fireworks from another state and brought them into Massachusetts.

Police said seven people were issues summons to appear in court to face illegal possession of fireworks charges after 435 items valued at $8,000 were seized on June 24.

"Among the items seized were aerial shells, cakes, large rockets, fountains, sparklers, and Roman candles, among other types," police said.

On Saturday, a similar sting resulted in six summonses and seized 654 items, many containing large volumes of shots, valued at more than $10,000.

On Sunday, the haul was five summonses and 501 items totaling more than $10,000 seized.

"All seized fireworks were documented and secured for eventual destruction," State police said. "The fireworks interdiction efforts are ongoing."

Peabody Police Chief Tom Griffin pledged a crackdown on illegal fireworks as the city looks to avoid injury and distress for animals and people who are averse to loud noises.

"Exploding fireworks poses a safety hazard and disturbance of the peace," Griffin said in a Peabody police social media post on Wednesday. "I will be instructing officers to diligently enforce the law to avert any potential problems and excessive disturbances."

Salem officials said that police will enforce maximum penalties against those who use or sell illegal fireworks, and have set up multiple channels for residents to report illegal firework use in their neighborhood.

The penalty for possession, use or cause to explode fireworks is $300 per offense with mandatory seizure of the fireworks.

The penalty for sale of illegal fireworks is a fine of up to $1,000, up to a year in prison and mandatory seizure of fireworks.

That city is asking residents to report illegal fireworks online here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)