Those Lame Sparkler Days are Over – Let the Rockets Fly!!!
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Many people recall the days in Indiana when large, aerial based consumer fireworks were off limits to residents within Indiana’s boundaries. Each time you bought one of the larger, consumer fireworks (not the notoriously lame and legal sparklers, ground spinners, cone fountains, wheels, and cylindrical fountains) you had to sign a waiver whereby you agreed to carry the fireworks across state lines — promising not to fire them off within the Hoosier state. And everyone did just that, right? Yeah right. Instead you would sneakily carry the rocket into the street, light it, and run to the safety of the darkness of your garage to watch the aerial light display — hoping a local officer didn’t catch you. The experienced Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorneys at Banks & Brower, take a look at the fireworks laws in Indiana. Take a read and give us a call.
What most people don’t realize is that the law has changed in your favor! No more hiding or fraudulent waivers are necessary…so long as you follow a few simple rules.
Indiana’s legislature carved out an exception to allow residents of Indiana to ignite consumer based fireworks (i.e. fire crackers, roman candles, bottle rockets, aerial fireworks, etc.) so long as they meet the following guidelines:
- They are 18 years old when they purchased the fireworks (or a minor can possess them with adult presence)
- Fireworks can be discharged on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and/or New Year’s Eve from the hours of 9 am – midnight only, any other day is 9 am – 11 pm; (local ordinances permitting) AND
- The fireworks are discharged on your property, on someone else’s property who has permission to release them, or a specially designated area
If you don’t follow those rules, you can face some pretty stiff penalties ranging from a Class C-Misdemeanor if you discharge them in the wrong spot, all the way up to a Level 5 Felony if your reckless behavior leads to the death of another person. To see the penalties, click here.
If you’d like to see safety tips for firing fireworks, click here. To read more about the laws and rules in Indiana, click here.
Otherwise, have fun, be safe, and enjoy your family.
If you find yourself enjoying your family, fireworks, booze, or any other thing a little too much this holiday break, and you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, give the experienced Indianapolis Criminal Defense attorneys at Banks & Brower, LLC, a call at 317.870.0019 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or, shoot us an email at info@banksbrower.com.
ENJOY!