Wayne Commissioners Blast State Fireworks Law

WAYNE COUNTY, MI — The 15 members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners sent a clear message with a vote last week that they favor repeal of Michigan’s consumer fireworks law, a controversial measure that for the last five has allowed the ale, distribution and use of commercial-grade aerial fireworks on and around national holidays.

County Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak, D-Dearborn Heights, said complaints about the fireworks have increased every year since 2011, when the Legislature enacted Michigan’s Fireworks Safety Act.

“This is a case where Lansing is just not listening to the people who are most affected by changes in the law,” Woronchak said in a statement. “And it’s just not possible for local police to keep it contained. This year in particular, with unusually dry conditions, common sense says that fireworks were even more dangerous than usual. But that didn’t cut back on the use.”

The resolution passed by the Wayne County Commission asks lawmakers to suppot legislation introduced by Sen. David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, and Rep. Harry Yanez, D-Sterling Heights, to ban commercial-grade consumer fireworks. Other state legislators and Gov. Rick Snyder will also get a copy of the Wayne County resolution.

“The only solution is a complete repeal of the legalization of these fireworks,” Woronchak said.

“Certainly, there would still be people who would drive to other states to buy fireworks, and there would still be illegal discharging of fireworks in neighborhoods,” he said. “But such activities would be far less than they are now, when you can buy fireworks in tents set up along the roadway on your way home from work.”

More than 26,000 people have signed a petition on MoveOn.org to repeal Michigan’s fireworks law.

The Legislature passed and Snyder signed the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act of 2011 to increase revenue to the state and to discourage residents from traveling out of state to buy consumer fireworks.

“The result has been a drastic increase in the amount and violence of private fireworks displays all over the state of Michigan, thereby endangering people, pets and property,” the petition states. “It is not worth the additional revenue. We want to return to the time before 2011 when these airborne fireworks were illegal to sell, purchase and use in the State of Michigan.”

Image credit: Epic Fireworks via Flickr / Creative Commons