Public Outcry Spurs State Rep to Talk Possible Changes to Fireworks Law

Clutching in his hand the remains of a 2-inch mortar that hit his home July 4, Macomb resident Edward Saroli begged township trustees Wednesday night to “protect the citizens of Macomb Township” by taking action to prohibit fellow residents from launching professional grade fireworks in his neighborhood.

Saroli is related to the new state fireworks law, but given the law's language, local governments are, for the most part, powerless to take action restricting fireworks–even as a safety measure.

Although Macomb Township did join several other municipalities in many residents say more enforcement is needed, even if that means changing the state law itself.

It was the overwhelming public outcry from citizens and local officials that led the sponsor of the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, State Rep. Harold Haugh, D-Roseville, to recommend to Gov. Rick Snyder this week that a bipartisan committee be created to review the legislation.

"What I want to focus on is a review from a consumer usage standpoint and enforcement local municipalities put in place," Haugh said, in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.

This review would reconsider the sale of fireworks from tents and discuss providing funding to help local municipalities with enforcement.

Haugh gave his recommendation to the governor's office on Monday and said he plans to meet with the state fire marshal on July 17, according to the Free Press.

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For Macomb Township Supervisor Mark Grabow, a “revamp” of the current law would be welcome.

“I know they are considering taking (the new fireworks law) back and redoing several pieces of it,” he said. “The complaints, the issues, the safety incidents are so numerous throughout the state that several communities have enacted ordinances such as we have, but the primary concern is the safety issue … When they go up in the air the way they do, you’re just asking for ancillary fallout.”

Although the law was intended to bring additional revenue and jobs into the state, Haugh told the Free Press that the consequences of the law have been “much larger than anyone anticipated, including myself.”

While Haugh did not have exact figures, he estimates between 300 and 600 jobs were created and upwards of half a million dollars generated in revenue (Michigan sold 966 licenses to sell fireworks at a cost of $600 for tents and $1,000 for brick-and-mortar buildings), according to the Free Press.

Most citizens will agree that Michigan can always use more jobs and revenue, but for residents like Saroli, the issue is far more personal.

"I’m concerned about my safety, my home. Some of these people have no idea what these things can do."