Woodbridge Starts 'Major' Fireworks Crackdown Thru July 4

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — This week, Woodbridge started a "major and unprecedented" crackdown on fireworks, which the town says will continue through the July 4 holiday weekend.

Starting Friday, Woodbridge police immediately stepped up neighborhood patrols looking for those using illegal fireworks. Woodbridge police will be in marked and unmarked cars roaming town right through the Fourth-of-July weekend, and will respond to any location where illegal fireworks are in use.

Anyone caught using illegal fireworks can be arrested, and have their fireworks confiscated. Additionally, for the first year ever, the name and address of any person charged with illegal fireworks usage will be publicly released to the news media.

This is the first year Woodbridge has done something of this magnitude, and Mayor John McCormac called it an "unprecedented" crackdown.

"Loud fireworks significantly disrupt the quality of life of our residents," said the mayor. "Young children and pets and senior citizens are particularly vulnerable. And think of anyone with post-traumatic stress disorder and what they experience every time they hear those noises that bring back horrible memories. People should not have to go through that."

Woodbridge has a database of the addresses in town where illegal fireworks have been reported in the past "and we will be monitoring those locations," he warned.

These are the type of fireworks that are now legal in New Jersey: Hand-held or ground-based sparklers, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices and trick noisemakers, including party poppers, snappers and drop pops.

ALL other fireworks (including firecrackers, roman candles, M80’s, cherry bombs, salutes and ground-to-air fireworks) is a fourth-degree crime.

Fireworks are responsible for a lot of injuries, especially to children under the age of 15.

You can report fireworks to Woodbridge police by calling the non-emergency number of 732-634-7700.