Warren Mayor tells police to give tickets to parents of minors who violate fireworks ordinance

(WXYZ) - Mayor Jim Fouts says his police department will ticket parents if their children violate the city's fireworks ordinance.

The ordinance allows people to use such fireworks as bottle rockets, roman candles and aerial cakes, but minors are not allowed to purchase or sell such fireworks.

“If minors violate the Act or the city ordinance with high noise fireworks, police are instructed to contact their parents and issue a violation to them,”said Fouts, who has publicly criticized the State Legislature for enacting a law that is “ill-conceived and potentially dangerous.”

Mayor Fouts also says that the July 4th fireworks is "open season" because of the new state law on fireworks.

“The state gets the fireworks application fee ($600-$1,000), a 6 percent fire safety tax and the 6 percent Michigan sales tax – and cities get nothing for police or fire overtime during the fireworks season,” said Fouts.  “Because of the new state law, fireworks are longer and louder frightening residents, especially seniors, and pets.” Fouts said that parental responsibility “will stop minors from selling, purchasing, or discharging fireworks that are now allowed by state law.”

The mayor also says that police will ticket anyone who is under the influence of alcohol and discharging fireworks.