For many, fireworks are literally the highlight of July 4th celebrations. Ending a day of barbecue, music and summer fun celebrating the birth of our nation with a literal bang.
We all know the hassle of arriving at the venue early to get the best seats, packing several friends and family into the car and waiting for several hours in the summer heat. Knowing all this, you might wonder: why not put on your own fireworks show in your backyard?
If you’re asking this question, it means it’s time for another Fourth of July tradition, folks – the annual reminder that fireworks are illegal in the state of Massachusetts.
No, you cannot buy fireworks out of state and bring them into Massachusetts
State law prohibits the possession, use and sale of fireworks without a license and certification. This applies to fireworks legally purchased in another state.
Even if you crossed the New Hampshire border with your friends and brought them back here, you are in possession. So no, this was never a loophole.
There will be professional fireworks shows statewide throughout the summer, so even if you can’t find a good spot to see on Uncle Sam’s birthday, there will still be plenty of good ones to come, even in the coming days. There are 30 fireworks displays in Massachusetts from July 5-7 alone, and more than 100 planned through the end of the summer.
What are the potential punishments for setting off fireworks in Massachusetts?
If you are caught by a police officer with fireworks, you could receive a $10 to $100 fine, and the officer will be required to seize the fireworks, according to the State Fire Marshal. A police officer cannot be arrested for possession of fireworks.
Selling fireworks carries a harsher penalty, a fine of $100 to $1,000 and up to a year in prison.
Is Massachusetts the only state that bans fireworks?
Yes, Massachusetts is the only state with a complete ban on fireworks. Fireworks were banned in 1943 as part of the Second World War.
Other states, such as Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and New York, partially ban fireworks. They only allow the sale and use of non-aerial, non-explosive fireworks. And just over half of all states, including New Hampshire and Maine, allow most consumer fireworks.
How many fireworks accidents have there been in Massachusetts?
Over the past five years, more than 500 fires and explosions have occurred, seven firefighters have been injured in those incidents, and more than 200 people have been treated for burns and other injuries involving illegal fireworks in the state, according to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Safety . .
In fact, in June 2022, Massachusetts ranked 20th in fireworks injuries over the summer. Total damage from 2019 to 2023 was estimated at more than $1.5 million.
Sparklers are banned in Massachusetts
Fun fact: sparklers burn at temperatures exceeding 1,800° Fahrenheit, which is hotter than the melting point of aluminum.
So does giving a six-year-old a toy that can melt metal seem like a good idea?
Sparklers fall into the “fireworks” category and are actually responsible for the majority of fireworks-related injuries among young children.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said “there were about 1,600 injuries treated in the emergency department associated with fireworks and 900 with sparks” in 2020. That represented nearly 10% of all fireworks-related injuries. that year. Of these 900 spark injuries, 44% were to children under the age of 5.
This article was originally published on Telegram & Gazette: Fireworks Massachusetts: What Laws You Should Know Before July 4th
