Macomb Township Bans Fireworks Except on 30 Days a Year
Amendment to ordinance prohibits the ignition, discharge and use of consumer fireworks except on the day before, day of or day after a national holiday.
Saving a few extra fireworks for a post-July 4 celebration? Think again. The Macomb Township board of trustees amended its fireworks ordinance Wednesday to effectively ban fireworks use all but 30 days a year.
Following the lead of cities such as Utica, Rochester Hills, Birmingham and Royal Oak, Macomb Township’s ordinance will allow the ignition, discharge and use of consumer fireworks on only those days specified under the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act – namely the day before, day of and day after a national holiday.
Read more: Macomb Adjusts Zoning Laws to Keep Fireworks Out of Subs
With 10 national holidays in the United States, this translates to 30 days on which fireworks will be allowed in Macomb. The 335 days remaining are off limits under the amended ordinance.
The penalty for violating this ordinance is a $500 fine and/or 90 days in jail.
“This will take away any question of whether we do or don’t allow fireworks,” Macomb Township Clerk Michael Koehs said of the ordinance.
The amended ordinance will go into effect 30 days after it is published in a newspaper of record. While this won’t be in time for July 4 celebrations, Koehs said residents can always invoke the township’s disturbing the peace ordinance to report fireworks issues to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office.
Residents who wish to report disturbances of the peace can call the sheriff’s dispatch at 586-469-3001.
The 10 national holidays recognized by the ordinance include:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- President's Day or Washington's Birthday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Do the fireworks drive your pet crazy? Check out these tips provided by local residents on how to keep your furry friends calm during fireworks season.
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BJ
5:50 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Hopefully the Sheriff's Department has been made aware of this. Last week they refused to anything about the people in Windemere shooting fireworks across Heydenrich into a very dry field.
Jenny Whalen
9:16 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
It's up to the sheriff on the scene, but the township board made it very clear last night that they expect reports of disturbing the peace to be taken very seriously.
Linda Hefter
7:27 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Be nice of they would enforce it.....they just look away .....as usual
Bazinga
2:58 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
They can't enforce it yet. As stated in the article, "The amended ordinance will go into effect 30 days after it is published in a newspaper of record. While this won’t be in time for July 4 celebrations, Koehs said residents can always invoke the township’s disturbing the peace ordinance to report fireworks issues to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office." Most we can hope for is a response to a disturbing the peace complaint.
KEN
11:35 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
I agree with both BJ and Linda the sherriffs dept never does anything about complaints of noise of fireworks or anything and it comes from the TOP cop himself maybe people will remember this in aug and put someone in charge that will uphold the laws that we PAY !!! our board and lawyers to come up with to keep are areas peacful
S Craig
1:45 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Just curious....as not everyone has off weekday nights to celebrate, if this new ordinance was in effect next week with 4th of July on Wednesday, what happens to the people celebrating with a family event on the Saturday/Sunday before or after?
Jenny Whalen
2:25 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
If this ordinance was currently in effect, fireworks would not be allowed on Saturday or Sunday, only July 3, 4 and 5.
Jason Borngesser
12:55 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
This seems like overkill. Why not restrict them during specific hours of the day?
mustangcobratim
11:15 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
i think people forget why we are celebrating here! stop being all about me me and remember why this country is so great!