Police Chief: Fireworks Violations Down 29 Percent This Year

Despite the large number of reports of fireworks violations this Fourth of July, the city saw a decrease in the use of illegal fireworks, the police chief told the City Council Tuesday night.

Police officers issued nine $1,000 fines to residents who were caught using illegal fireworks and 61 pounds of fireworks were confiscated. But the fact that Independence Day fell on a weekday definitely had an impact on how many banned fireworks were set off throughout the city.

“I attribute the decrease to the Wednesday,” Police Chief Neil Telford said at the council meeting.

Still, as usual on the holiday, police saw an uptick in activity, Telford said.

The day before the Fourth of July, the Police Department received 83 calls for service, which is typical on a daily basis, he said.

From 8-11:30 p.m. on July 4, police had 101 calls just in that 2 ½ hour time period.

Telford said the next day many residents were asking officers, “Where were you?” because there were so many fireworks violations despite their best efforts to educate the public on the city’s “safe and sane” fireworks policy.

He said that officers explained that despite the city’s policy, there are still people who manage to circumvent the rules, which, in some cases, is beyond their control.

Overall, between June 28 and July 4, the city had 111 reports of fireworks violations—a 29 percent decrease from last year when the city saw 157 reports of illegal fireworks.

Telford also singled out the east side of the city because use of illegal fireworks was significantly higher there than in other parts of the city. The chief didn’t go into detail about what neighborhoods saw the most activity. 

For more news about San Bruno, follow San Bruno Patch on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook. Got Patch in your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter.