Belvidere council raises fines for illegal fireworks after recounting enforcement incidents

The Belvidere City Committee of the Whole on May 12 approved an amendment to city code §74-221 to raise fines for unlawful fireworks and to add injury to persons or property as an aggravating factor.

City Attorney Drella presented a memo recommending the change, stating the city first increased the minimum fine in 2023 to $500 but that unlawful fireworks continue to be a concern. The proposed ordinance amendment raises the minimum fine to $750 and increases the maximum fine (for non–home-rule municipalities) to $1,500.

Alderman Peterson, who moved the ordinance, asked about enforcement options and whether the city could apply its rules extraterritorially to nearby properties; Attorney Drella said general ordinances typically apply only within corporate boundaries except where a specific agreement says otherwise. "Typically we can only enforce our ordinances within our own jurisdiction," Drella said.

Council members and public-safety staff described recent enforcement efforts. Alderman Peterson recalled a multi-agency action shutting down an illegal fireworks vendor in the county and said the city and state police seized large quantities of illegal fireworks: "They shut that down... we ended up with, I believe, two storage trailers full of them," he said. Chief Woody confirmed the department runs a zero-tolerance enforcement posture when violators are identified and will seize illegal fireworks and issue citations.

Officials said the city will combine enforcement with public education. Chief Woody said the department posts yearly notices on social media about fireworks rules and consequences, and the department runs a local newspaper advertisement before the July 4th period.

The council approved the ordinance amendment by voice vote. The committee directed staff and police to update public-education materials and proceed with enforcement under the clarified ordinance.