Rochester scofflaws want to keep ignoring fireworks ordinance? OK, fine!

Fireworks and firecracker complaints drew dozens of calls each day over the three-day 4th of July weekend; inset a pop-up link to the city's fireworks ordinance on the Rochester Police website. (Courtesy images)

ROCHESTER - After three years of public outreach and education on the City of Rochester's fireworks ordinance, police this past 4^th of July holiday began a tougher enforcement strategy cracking down on scofflaws, many of whom had been given warnings in previous years.

From 8 p.m. on Friday till 2 a.m. on Sunday police responded to a whopping 64 calls for service, issuing 15 summonses that can carry up to a $100 fine.

Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said the tougher enforcement was enacted after three years of verbal warning and education on their website and Facebook page, which has a very large following.

"The city's fireworks ordinance was more heavily enforced this year due to the numerous complaints we've already received this summer," Pinkham explained. "We also have publicized the ordinance the past couple years on our website and Facebook page to help educate residents of the ordinance."

The huge numbers for calls and complaints this past weekend show a large spike compared to the ordinance's first year on the books in 2017 when police responded to 72 fireworks complaints and summonsed 14 during a long four-day 4^th of July weekend.

Police were expecting there might be a spike in fireworks activity after public fireworks in Dover and Rochester were canceled due to the COVID-19 safety issues.

On Friday Pinkham said police informed Central Avenue residents about the ordinance, but were called to the same area on Saturday around 9:35 p.m. where they witnessed more violations and one was arrested, Pinkham said.

"An officer saw and heard fireworks going off in the area and then saw a male light off fireworks; the officer also noticed debris in the roadway," Pinkham noted.

Ralph C. Rosenberger (Rochester Police photo)

As the officer was issuing a summons someone else in the crowd became argumentative, according to Pinkham.

"The person arguing with the officer was standing on the sidewalk holding an alcoholic beverage," Pinkham said. "When told he was being summonsed for the alcohol on city property, the male tried to walk away, at which point he was told to come back, to which he again refused and then physically resisted the officer when told he was being taken into custody."

Ralph C. Rosenberger, 48, of 3 Chestnut St., Rochester, was charged with resisting arrest or detention and violating the city's consumption of liquor on city property ordinance.