Santa Cruz County expands app to include fireworks reports
It is almost the 4th of July and even though fireworks have been illegal in most of parts of Santa Cruz County for years, like clockwork, many neighbors still hear them.
“I don’t know who it is, but it is like bombs going off,” said Dean Herrick a Santa Cruz County resident.
Herrick has lived in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz County for 16 years. He told KION that he hears fireworks all too often.
“Every 4th of July and then on New Year’s they are really bad,” said Herrick. “And sometimes two of three days before 4th of July and then about a week afterwards they keep doing them too,” said Herrick.
Herrick’s neighborhood falls into an unincorporated area of Santa Cru County. That means no fireworks.
“The rules around Santa Cruz County and unincorporated areas is pretty straight forward,” said Jason Hoppin, a spokesperson for the county of Santa Cruz. “They are just not allowed period,” added Hoppin.
Fireworks are illegal in the city of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley. Some fireworks are legal in the city of Watsonville. There you can buy and set them off on the 4th of July as long as they don’t leave the ground. In Capitola, ‘safe and sane’ fireworks are allowed on private property, according to the county.
“They are just dangerous in amateurs’ hands and we don’t want them here,” said Hoppin.
But why exactly? Many say if used safely fireworks can be fun.
“A lot of it is nuisance issues,” said Hoppin.” People being awoken by M-80s in the middle of the night, you have fire danger, we have the Monterey bay to think about.”
Beyond just reminding people who live in Santa Cruz County about the rules, Hoppin told KION that they are sending out letters to all vacation rentals owners too.
“If you are here don’t pick them up and if you are here for the vacation don’t bring them in,” said Hoppin.
If you do, it could cost you. There is a $1000 fine in place, but fine or not, Herrick still expects he will hear fireworks soon.
“If somehow there were enough cops to enforce it that would be great but they are probably outnumbered I think,” said Herrick.
