Woonsocket Police Crack Down On Illegal Fireworks

WOONSOCKET, RI — Woonsocket police are cracking down on the use of illegal fireworks.

Police said Thursday that they have received many calls from residents concerned about the dramatic increase of fireworks noise, and announced arrests on misdemeanor and felony charges related to fireworks.

"While we acknowledge that we have successfully investigated more serious and noteworthy crimes lately, we didn't want you to think we ignore the more prevalent quality-of-life crimes," Woonsocket police said. "We have listened to your concerns and complaints about illegal fireworks. We have officers specifically assigned in attempts to locate those responsible."

The two arrests on Wednesday were an 18-year-old from Paradis Avenue charged with misdemeanor possession of fireworks and a 31-year-old from Coe Street charged with felony possession of fireworks.

"The different charges are the result of the amount of fireworks they were arrested with," police said. "A good rule of thumb is that if it has a report (explodes) or is aerial, they are illegal in RI."