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Montclair police report fewer July 4 fireworks calls, seize about 40 pounds of abandoned fireworks
Summary
The Montclair Police Department reported a drop in calls and said proactive patrols and code enforcement seized roughly 40 pounds of abandoned fireworks after July 4; the chief noted enforcement challenges from anonymous reports and out-of-jurisdiction sourcing.
The Montclair Police Department told the council that proactive patrols, code-enforcement partnerships and public outreach helped reduce fireworks-related calls during the recent Independence Day period.
"From July 3 to July 4 during peak hours... we seized over approximately 40 pounds of abandoned fireworks," the department representative said, adding that staff deployed extra marked units and code-enforcement two-person units during peak hours. The department also urged residents to provide addresses when reporting to make response and enforcement more effective.
Police said the department received a surge of anonymous reports through an online portal, which complicated follow-up. The chief said some fireworks appear to be transported into the city from other jurisdictions, which reduces the likelihood of catching sellers or those igniting the devices.
Council members thanked police and fire staff for their outreach and enforcement. Several councilmembers described the loud, widespread noise that made pets and children anxious and noted wildfire risks given dry brush conditions.
The chief recommended shifting some enforcement toward after-the-fact strategies — for example, host or social-host ordinances and intelligence gathering that could lead to homeowner citations after the fact — to discourage future illegal use.
