The Suburban Times

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Can Lakewood Ban Fireworks, Please?

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Submitted by Steve.

Fireworks are only legal to set off here in Lakewood on July 4. However we have mortars going off at every Seahawks game, all day on New Years, etc. The law is seemingly never enforced, much to the dismay of combat veterans and pets across town.

People have had a chance to use them legally, yet time after time prove they are not responsible enough to follow the law. Maybe they should just be banned outright.

Comments

  2. Check your facts, per Lakewood code fireworks are allowed from 11:00 p.m. December 31st to 1:00 a.m. January 1st.

  3. This subject came up tonight at Lakewood’s Public Safety Advisory Committee mtg.
    Most fireworks are already banned (Yay, freedom!)
    The fireworks you are contending with are already illegal, but easily purchased at neighboring sovereign tribal lands.
    A complete ban would affect only law-abiding citizens.
    Back to the drawing board…

    signed, (first name) Chas. (last name) Ames

    • Mr. Ames,

      Let me wish you a happy New Year before I announce that once again we disagree.

      It is not the responsibility of the Public Safety Committee to “cop out” with the philosophy “A complete ban would affect only law-abiding citizens”.

      The Public Safety Committee, which is suppose to work for public safety should recommend to Lakewood City Council a total fireworks ban. Once in place, you are right, there will still be some who are not honest citizens who will violate a no fireworks law, but that is when the city can “cop up” and enforce the law by confiscating and ticketing.

      A first year Deputy Boyle “honeymoon period” could be used with verbal warnings to cease and desist. After that, confiscation and tickets would be the play for the day.

      Once a violator receives say a $500 ticket, they will complain to 50 of their friends and family which will generate what IRS calls, “Voluntary Compliance”.

      If I am wrong and you are right, then it stands to reason we should abolish all laws agains murder since some will still violate the law.

      Joseph Boyle

      • Agree 100% logic and reason instead of acting POWERLESS be reasonable and stand on the principles of the good of the whole. You may want to put it up for a vote or public survey.

      • Can you name any cities that have enacted a complete ban?
        Joe, you are against Housing Safety, but are for curtailing the rights of safe citizens?

        • Mr. Ames, I am not and never have been against housing safety. I take housing safety very seriously. What I am against is a local government violating citizen’s constitutional rights by mandating forced interior penetration of a private residence against the wishes of the renter and owner.

          The renter has the power to move or request an inspection if there are issues. If they are afraid or too ignorant to utilize protections in place, why punish honest citizens like a Communist country?

          When it comes to fireworks, the joy of a few who choose to waste their money and time blowing up their cash with pyrotechnics with the end result of punishing the many good citizens who are victims of the noise, negligent fires, and pet abuse, should not be supported by local government. Local government can and should ban fireworks to protect the majority. Government can accomplish this without violating anyone’s constitutional rights.

          Joseph Boyle

    • Not if we have the law being enforced and set a consistent enforcement and fines enforced setting the standard for the whole community not just the few who are out of control and extreme!

  4. Please, Lakewood City Council members. Help the many of us who do not think the fireworks, M80s, and sundry other explosive devices really celebrate anything. Besides the fright caused to children and our pets, there are many Lakewood residents who replay horrible times with each explosion that goes off in our otherwise serene neighborhoods.
    The people who fancy this desecration of civility are empowered through the absence of law. This is quite a ridiculous situation. People who have fought to give us a country where we could live in peace and who have paid a strong and often physical price to do just that now find themselves undergoing audio repeat of the very memories they are still trying to forget.
    Why is the only response to this dreadful situation that of the do-ers ignoring, or laughing and belittling those who suffer the most? This seems to be a desecration of society once again. Please help.

    • M-80s and explosive devises are already illegal! I think a better ask is to better educate the residents and just enforce the current laws.

      • The problem is the illegal ones are wrapped up in with the legals and you can’t get those enforced if we ban them all then they will come out and take care of any that are going off. I agree with Joe Boyle’s plan above. It has gotten out of hand and so many of us are just sick of it. They have all brought this on themselves, if they would stick to the time limits and the legal fireworks we would not be upset but they haven’t so we must ban them all! It’s happening all over. It’s one of the reasons we stay home because the idiots can set your house on fire! We always did legal fireworks but were within the time frame, had our hose out and water protection and did it legal. Idiots today don’t even know what that means.

  5. Here here! Between the terrorizing pets and wildlife, starting fires, disturbing the peace, and littering,, enough is enough. It was fine when we had some fire crackers and sparklers, maybe roman candles on the 4th, but now everyone having full blown pyrotechnics all year and shooting them off for a score for their favorite team, whichever team it is, in whatever sport it is, is too much. Then a New York style show on every block at midnight every New years? Enough already.

  6. Oh yes please ban them. Surrounding cities have done so. If a public vote was taken I am sure it would favor a ban.

    • Oh yes, lets just look at Tacoma! Their complete ban has NOT WORKED AT ALL! It is a war zone! In over 20 years it has gotten worse! Allowing state- approved fireworks only on the 4th and NYE and enforcing the ordinance on the books is the best way to control. All the illegal fireworks are available on tribal lands nearby. Educate residents of legal dates and hours, enforce the illegal use and Let Freedom Reign!

  7. I, too, strongly advocate that fireworks be banned in Lakewood. Fireworks have long been a financial waste, irritating, dangerous, and irrational phenomena, in my opinion.

  8. Please stop the fireworks. It is like a war zone here in Lakewood! Mostly illegal fireworks shake the house and Windows, and continue every night for at least four days. Thank you!

  9. Just for the sake of conversation what else would those advocating a government ban on fireworks like to see government also ban? Guns? Plastic bags? Soda straws? Sugary drinks? Words that upset some people…..i.e. freedom of speech? Rap music? Animal meat? Christmas? Prayer in schools? Private health insurance and care? Hunting? Fishing? Alcohol? Vaping? At what point have we entrusted to government just a little too much power to regulate our lives and limit our freedoms through bans? When was the last time you saw a successful ban on anything? Prohibition didn’t/doesn’t work. What should the penalty be for violating the fireworks ban? Prison? Fine? Exile? Today it’s fireworks; tomorrow perhaps a ban on something that is really important to you. Certainly enforce the laws which limit fireworks to reasonable hours and by reasonable types. But ban? By the way: this combat veteran (Vietnam ’68-’70) has no problem with legal fireworks used legally.

    • Mr. Arbeeny,

      The things that you mention such as guns, plastic bags, soda straws, sugary drinks, do not negatively impact on anyone, when lawfully used, because any citizen is free to avoid say a soda straw. Why just today while dining at Applebees, I told the waitress, “Pepsi, please and no straw”.

      Fireworks, like vapor inhalers, forces innocent citizens to suffer.

      Answer me this. Why don’t vapor gas inhalors smoke their garbage inside their car with the windows rolled up tightly and the air system turned on to recirculate? People who choose to smoke cancer sticks should do the same. I say light-up or vape-up until you are blue in your face, but leave me out of it. I am not interested in the inconsiderate drug abuser’s second hand smoke or vape gases. I say keep it to your self. Take on as much as you can as fast as you can. That way you can kill yourself sooner and leave innocent non-smoking and non-vaping citizens out the subtle suicide loop.

      Why is it a vape sucker can assault me at a traffic light with their vape gasses in the form of a big cloud of smoke, but if I walk up to their driver’s window and assault them by punching them in the face, I will be judged as having committed a crime? While my example is ridiculous, our current societal inability to regulate smokers and gassers is even more ridiculous.

      Your arguments, while interesting, have nothing to do with stopping one citizen from directly harming another innocent citizen with the downside of fireworks.

      Joseph Boyle

      • Thank you Joe! I agree. Do any of you realize what some of these fireworks due to people with PTSD? Do you care? You live in a military community and claim to give a damn about our military but do you? And of course those with pets! Just ban them, if you can’t enforce and stop the illegal ones which they can’t, then ban them all

      • Fireworks when lawfully used harm no one……except certain people’s tender sensitivities. If police can’t enforce the existing laws dealing with illegal fireworks how do you expect them to enforce “ban them all”? How about all you “ban” supporters get your communities organized or join existing neighborhood associations and spread the word regarding legal fireworks use, meet with people in your community violating the law and educate them and help police enforce existing laws instead of sitting at home cowering over the noise and expecting government to do something about it for you? Or have we become a nation where government is the only answer to our personal problems?

        • Oh, brother Arbeeny attacking people that don’t like it, really? They can’t enforce it because it stops by the time they get there. How dare you attack people with PTSD as “cowering”! But what would I expect…

  10. Well said, John. If the government bans everything that bothers people, everything will be banned. Legal fireworks are a tradition, and in a way, represent freedom. Please don’t take that away!

  11. Another combat veteran here (Chu Lai Vietnam 65-66). I agree with Mr Arbeeny. I enjoy fireworks but our family pets do not particularly care for them. When we know there will be noise we set them in a room with soothing music that blocks out most of the noise. It is even better when we are in the room with them. We have to be very careful about giving increased power to Government. I support rules for appropriate time and use; oppose banning.

  12. If it was just on the fourth of july and only on the fourth I would not be in favor of the ban. In my neighborhood they go nuts with fireworks for weeks sometimes months after the fourth ,New years, Chinese New years,if somebody farts etc so yea ban them. At least ban the powerful loud and dangerous fireworks that can be bought on several of the Indian Reservations.Yea I know they have all the casino money so are leadership does not want to anger them. This will go on until idiots blow their kid’s arm off with one and then it will be too late.

    • Hmmm? I’ve never seen fireworks for “…..weeks sometimes months after the fourth….” or any of the other times mentioned except New Years and this year was pretty tame. Where do you live? Maybe it’s a neighborhood thing. Do you have a neighborhood association? Do you attend their meetings? Do you report illegal use and type of fireworks to help out the police? If you don’t, you’re part of the problem, not the solution. Get involved.

  13. I wrote Lakewood City Council HOW LAKEWOOD SHOULD BAN FIREWORKS but NEVER received any response of any kind. It is dangerous, it is smoky (cancer causing), noisy for people and pets. People COME FROM TACOMA, STEILACOOM to shoot off in Lakewood. PLEASE STOP THE FIREWORKS IN LAKEWOOD.

    • Please please please tell me WHERE any medical expert has claimed that FIREWORK SMOKE CAUSES CANCER? Hah!

  14. Let me understand this… You want to make fireworks illegal because people use them when they are currently illegal. I don’t think this accomplishes what you want. The only thing this will do it make it so that people who currently follow the law will not use fireworks on the 4th and new years. It doesn’t solve your problem. Those that are using them illegally today will still do that. As stated above the police do not enforce the current law.
    There are a couple of ways to deal with this problem.
    1. Limit access to the substance. Even if you ban sales in Lakewood or even all of Washington you have not on the Reservation. Anyone who wants them will still be able to get purchase them.
    2. Increase enforcement. This is a discussion with with law enforcement. You must remember though if you want them on firework patrol after every sporting event that means they will not be focusing on other areas like dui enforcement.
    3. Snitch on your neighbors. If you dont like it walk around with a video camera just before the end of seahawk games and record the criminals in the act and submit that as evidence to the police.
    Additional laws to make what is currently illegal more illegal (which isn’t a thing) does not solve your problem.

  15. And maybe while law enforcement is seeking out the users of illegal fireworks they could also take a few minutes to ticket the MANY people still using cell phones while driving; even though the “grace period” has come and gone long ago.

  16. I support banning fire works and support anyone who realizes how we need more peace not explosions at 11 pm to all hours of the night. FIRE WORKS IN A PUBLIC CITY EVENT MUST BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY THIS OVER THE TOP MENTALITY FOR SO MANY REASONS!

  17. I guess the Lakewood City Council should put this on a ballot. There is no reason why they shouldn’t. University Place and Dupont have a no fireworks law so why not Lakewood?

    It sounded like WW III in my neighborhood at midnight New Years BUT it only lasted for around 10 minutes and many of us didn’t have to go to work the next day.

    I’m all for a ban of fireworks in Lakewood.

    There are far more reasons to ban them than to let them go on.

    As for peoples rights, we have been attacked head to foot already taking many of our rights away. So don’t even go there because I have an arsenal of our rights all ready being taken away throughout the past years.

  18. So the “sounds of freedom” only apply to the base I guess. I am a firm NO on any fireworks ban. We have more than enough unenforceable regulations anyway. I truly enjoy watching and listening to the Fireworks.

  19. It’s worth noting that most western countries (ie scary socialist countries in Europe) have no such rules on fireworks. In most countries in Europe you can use fireworks any day of the year, though you still almost never hear them outside of national celebrations. The reality isn’t much different to here.

    Even the rules we already have on the books would seem ridiculous and anti-freedom by European standards… yet Europe supposedly is more into controlling of its citizens. This just goes to show how none of these issues are black and white, freedom and tyranny — it’s all cultural. What do we value? What do we want to enforce? Rules on fireworks that are normal here, are crazy government overreach elsewhere. Rules that are normal in Europe, are crazy government overreach here. It’s all arbitrary.

    So the question is, are the benefits worth the costs? As a person who grew up with fireworks as an important tradition, I would be very upset if they were made illegal. People do get hurt, and even occasionally killed due to misuse. However, far more harm comes from other things that remain legal like guns, or even cigarettes (through fires) etc. Such a tiny amount of harm caused by fireworks does not seem to warrant making them illegal, if you use our other laws as a standard of comparison.

    However, in a community with a lot of veterans, the issue of PTSD is a fair argument. Perhaps the only truly fair argument.

    Then again, one could also argue that the current law is already a compromise, and a good one at that. People will always break the law, so how about we put more funds into enforcement? It seems to me that this will have a much more beneficial affect on veterans than enacting a ban that the worst offenders will just ignore. It’s easy to enact laws, the difficult part is paying the taxes necessary to fund the enforcement of those laws.

  20. Thanks for everyone’s comments. In our location in Lakewood over the last 25 years (American Lake), the 4th of July pyros have accelerated the intensity and duration of their pyrotechnic celebrations to such an extreme that their celebrations are out of control. It’s all about the competition…who in the neighborhood can make the most noise for the longest time…who can attract the most boats. No regard for neighbors. Last 4th of July the pyrotechnics from two neighbors were non-stop from 8pm to 1am. One neighbor invited multiple families & friends to come over and blow off their pyrotechnics at his dock. Had to be 40 or more people there! Fun, right? No way. What we saw & heard was so far beyond what is allowed by the City. We call the 911 South sound non-emergency number (253-798-4721) and report what’s happening. Guess what? No response from the City. So, we take our cat & dog to a Fircrest vet for boarding before the 4th. On the 5th we check our property. Debris and scorches on our roof..when will that start a fire? Debris on the dry grass and in the dry woods…when will that start a fire? Good grief.

    Here is what the City of Lakewood allows the pyros (google Lakewood website):

    “Within the city, you can use sparklers, ground and handheld sparkling devices, cylindrical or cone fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, filter sparklers, smoke devices, helicopters, roman candles, mines or shells. If it is lawfully sold in the City of Lakewood, by any vendor, it is legal in the City of Lakewood. Fireworks are legal July 3 to July 5 of any year from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and from 11 p.m. on December 31 to 1:00am January 1 of any year”.

    The City of Lakewood is not able to enforce their code and they do not even try. Under those circumstances, since the pyros don’t care either, the City should make it simple:

    #1 choice: ban all fireworks all year long; seriously respond to violations with city police & district firemen
    #2 choice: limit fireworks to July 4th, 9pm-11pm; seriously respond to violations with city police & district firemen and enforce the code.

    As it stands now, the City’s code, its enforcement, its response isn’t working. It’s letting things run amok.

    • I think that is the problem. If they could/would respond to the illegal/late fireworks all of us would be satisfied. I don’t know if they don’t have the manpower or they don’t bother. Either way it has escalated way out of control, hence the desire to just ban them all. It starts many days before the 4th and goes on many days afterwards. Same with New Years, it starts long before the midnight (they need to check their clocks I guess) and goes on forever). We have an abundance of fools!

  21. just enforce the laws you have! In Lake City it gets much worse every year. On the 4th they start at least a week in advance and always go on until 1 a.m or more. They shoot them off days after they are legal. I see almost no legal fireworks, but huge explosions, bottle rockets, and rockets- all illegal. there seems to be an absence of police in the area at night in July. Other laws are also not enforced in this area such as camping on the school grounds and sleeping in school ground parking. There are signs posted on the fences and on the shelter saying they will be prosecuted, and cars will be towed, but this has gone on for months, and YES I have reported it to both police and school district. Enforce the laws already in place!

    • Yes, you have touched the heart of the problem. Laws that are not enforced are ignored. The solution is for the City of Lakewood to enforce the existing ordinance. If they can not or will not enforce the existing rules why would anyone be naive enough to assume they would step up to enforcing a total ban of fireworks.

  22. Very few things infuriate me more than the talk of banning fireworks. A ban is not the answer to a social problem. We have tried that before… remember prohibition?

    Tacoma has had a ban on fireworks for 25 years, yet those who want fireworks are still purchasing them, now from illegal sources, and setting them off. Having lived in Tacoma, the only ones affected were the gathering of families having their barbeques, who now must travel to a limited number of displays. I guess the only ones who can enjoy fireworks are the wealthy who can afford water front property.

    If we are going to ban something, make it worthwhile. Alcohol related fatalities annually claim over 10,000 lives, and nationwide, there were 1.4 million DUI arrests. You want to ban fireworks? Cigarette related fires cause 400 million dollars in property damage nationwide and are attributed to 1 out of every 4 fire related deaths. You want to ban fireworks? And on average, 177 deaths nationwide are attributed to animal related causes (snakes etc.). You want to ban fireworks?

    While the improper use of and failure to properly supervise those utilizing fireworks is a problem, banning the activity from all is not the answer. On average, only 8 fire works related deaths occur nationally with Washington State reporting no fatalities and 856 firework related injuries. I for one will have my barbeque this Independence Day, will have my garden hose at the ready, and will invite my neighbors to watch a few cones and sparklers with my family. Freedom, what a concept!

  23. 25 yr ban on all public possession and use of Fireworks in Tacoma and this is what it looked like on New Years Eve

    youtu.be/I4pl1Kb6NJc

    It’s working really well for them so i am sure it is the answer to all of you complaints about fireworks in Lakewood

  24. Maybe we the people need to start intimidating whoever is selling these illegal things in their tents. If they’re selling illegal fireworks, they don’t have a legal right to operate in our city, or should be fined into oblivion or held personally liable for any damages the products they sell cause.

    Also, if Lakewood can ban weed stores, they can ban fireworks. Cannabis is medicine, fireworks are needlessly dangerous ‘recreational’ items.

    • The illegal fireworks are sold on the Indian reservations and the state and federal government has no control over them whatsoever. They could post police outside the reservation and stop cars leaving the stands with the merchandise but I doubt they’ve ever done that, same with the purchasing of illegally priced cigarettes on the reservation (did you know that?) They are cheaper purchased on the reservation and a number of your tobacco-addicted people purchase them there without the taxes! We could take care of that the same way but they don’t and I assume there is some law prohibiting stopping people for just assuming they purchased something … I’ve been out of working in law offices too long —

    • This is ridiculous. People aren’t selling them out of a tent in the Towncenter. Citizens are driving to local fireworks booths on the Indian Reservations where it is legal to sell these fireworks and bringing them back to Lakewood to set off. So your real issue is at the Federal
      level.

      • The Federal level does not control the reservation and it shouldn’t! For crying out loud, taking their land was enough, telling them what to do with it is not allowed!

      • Well then they should expand the list of banned fireworks. The tents at the town center sell mortars and other loud and explosive fireworks. Maybe they should just have snakes and sparklers if they can’t be reasonable.

    • And I am not so sure that Lakewood’s ban on “weed stores” has eliminated the “devils lettuce”.

      Again, people just drive to where it is legal to purchase and bring it home to a Lakewood to smoke on their back porch so the stink wafts into my window.

  25. Here I’ve been monitoring these comments hoping to be Comment #50, but must settle for being Comment #51 🙂