Recent changes were made to the fireworks ordinances in Perry, and a local public safety official explains the reason for those changes which were approved at the June 7th Perry City Council meeting.  

Police Chief Eric Vaughn says since fireworks have been legalized the police department is still receiving complaints of people lighting fireworks off outside of the allowed times. Vaughn says the City Ordinance only allows for fireworks to be used on the Fourth of July, but the recent change for officers to be able to cite a property owner might make this easier to enforce. 

“It’s often difficult when you have a large gathering to try to identify those individual person who lights off a firework. So, what this allows us to do is to write the person a municipal infraction to either the property owner or the person in control of that property.”

Vaughn tells Raccoon Valley Radio the changes, including citing property owners and not allowing fireworks in the business districts in Perry, hope to bring people a safer Fourth of July celebration this year and Vaughn says officers will be out and about during the holiday. 

“We know that people are going to be gathering probably Friday and Saturday (of the Fourth of July holiday) so we are going to be out in force so we can try to make sure they’re following those rules, being safe so we are going to try to step up our enforcement on those days.”

Vaughn reminds people to be safe when they are using fireworks when enjoying the Fourth of July this year, and that fireworks are not allowed on City property.