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Riverside rolls out drone teams, higher fines and outreach to curb illegal Fourth‑of‑July fireworks
Summary
Riverside police described a new multi‑department drone enforcement program for illegal fireworks, funded with about $86,000 for equipment and nighttime training and supported by a social‑host ordinance that allows administrative citations and $1,500 daily fines.
City police briefed the City Council on July 1 about a newly enhanced fireworks enforcement program that deploys certified drone teams to locate and document illegal fireworks use.
The department said it purchased advanced unmanned aircraft and trained certified Part 107 pilots to run nighttime operations in five teams, each partnered with code enforcement and the fire department. The city attorney amended Riverside Municipal Code 1.18.0.1 to include a social‑host provision that holds householders responsible and allows administrative citations with a minimum fine of $1,500 per 24‑hour period.
"It's not about spying on people," Lieutenant LeBeck said during the presentation. "It's about observing things from a platform that we have a lawful right to be in... and trying to mitigate the risk to the community that's associated with illegal fireworks use."
The presentation included examples of local media coverage showing drone video and the department described a multi‑channel public‑education effort — web sliders, PSAs on freeway electronic signs, social posts and local interviews — aimed at deterrence. Staff said early operational nights produced a small number of citations and that the program will scale through the holiday weekend.
Council members asked about privacy protections and data collection. Staff cited policy guidance from the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Police Executive Research Forum and said their local policy will avoid surveilling places with a reasonable expectation of privacy absent legal authority. Staff also noted potential collection tools (Franchise Tax Board intercept) to recover unpaid fines.
Council received the update; the report was entered into the record and staff will continue operations over the holiday weekend and report back with results.
Quote attribution: Direct quotes are from the July 1 presentation by Riverside Police staff.
