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Residents report large fireworks; city and sheriff plan enforcement and outreach ahead of Fourth of July
Summary
A resident reported large, explosive fireworks in Hawaiian Gardens; city staff and the city attorney said the city and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are planning enforcement, signage and public-education to reduce illegal fireworks use.
Residents raised concerns at the June 11 meeting about large, explosive fireworks being set off in Hawaiian Gardens, and city officials said the city and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are planning enforcement and outreach ahead of the Fourth of July.
During public comment, Reynaldo Rodriguez said he has heard “huge” fireworks detonated in alleys near Horace Street and asked the council to consider ways to address a small number of people using powerful explosives. “These things are huge… you can feel the explosion,” Rodriguez said, and urged the city to create a plan to identify and report those incidents.
In response, the city attorney said he had instructed the sheriff’s captain and sergeant to plan a more proactive enforcement effort. Public-safety staff said the city ordered digital street signs to inform residents about new fines associated with illegal fireworks, has started a social-media campaign, and will distribute flyers to schools, businesses and homes. Staff said citations will be issued by the sheriff’s department; council members noted the practical challenge that officers must observe a person actually lighting fireworks to issue a citation.
No new ordinance or specific enforcement tactic was adopted at the meeting. City staff and the sheriff will proceed with outreach and the planned education campaign; the council urged residents to report illegal fireworks activity to law enforcement.
