Police using fireworks incidents as teachable moments

Fireworks are only allowed in the city on July 3-4. (Courtesy image)

COPYRIGHT2017© ROCHESTER - With the 4^th of July less than a month away, police charged with enforcing a new fireworks ordinance are trying hard to educate a city before the pyrotechnics-infused pop-pop-pop begins.

For those who didn't know, the ordinance was passed in May and prohibits the use of fireworks except for July 3 from 6-11 p.m. and July 4 from 6 p.m.-midnight.

On Saturday police received several fireworks complaint calls, but by the time police were on scene those setting them off were already gone.

"We have to set priorities on these types of calls," Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas said on Tuesday. "On Saturday by the time we got there it was a negative contact."

Saturday's fireworks complaints were recorded on Lafayette and River streets, Summer Street, Glenwood and Pleasant streets, Grandview Camping Area and Baxter Lake Association, all during the evening hours.

Thomas said no contact was made with ordinance offenders on Saturday, but on Sunday they did, with police informing one Glenwood Avenue resident of the new prohibitions.

Thomas said if they see the sane resident lighting off fireworks illegally again he will likely be summonsed and have to pay a $100 fine.

For now, however, police are not seeking to summons offenders, only educate them.

"Unless we have a complainant where someone gets hurt or there is property damage, we'll just inform them of the new ordinance," Thomas added.

Thomas said there hasn't been much pushback on the ordinance, noting it's a "quality of life" issue and that fireworks that are unwanted can stress out animals and humans.

Rochester residents who want to set off fireworks on July 3 and July 4 must apply to the city for a permit no less than 15 days prior to their fireworks event.