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Atascadero adopts urgency social-host ordinance to curb illegal fireworks
Summary
The Atascadero City Council voted unanimously to adopt an urgency social-host ordinance that makes property owners or event hosts strictly liable for illegal fireworks at gatherings, raises fines to $1,000 per violation (up to 10 per day), and allows the city to recover emergency response costs.
The Atascadero City Council on Monday adopted an urgency ordinance making social hosts strictly liable for illegal fireworks discharged at gatherings they sponsor, raising penalties and allowing the city to seek reimbursement for response costs.
Police Chief Dan Settles told the council the city’s existing fireworks prohibition is difficult to enforce because officers rarely witness the person who ignites a firework. "Strictly liable means liability for a wrongful act regardless of such person's intent, knowledge, negligence, or lack thereof," Settles read aloud when explaining the proposed rule that would hold hosts responsible if fireworks are set off at their event.
The ordinance increases the penalty the council described as…
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