For many Americans, the idea of watching fireworks displays on the Fourth of July, and maybe even shooting off their own, has become synonymous with the holiday that celebrates the nation’s independence.
Here’s what to know in Illinois about the explosive mixture that makes the country’s birthday colorful and loud.
What’s prohibited in Illinois?
Consumer fireworks are banned under the Pyrotechnic Use Act. These are defined as fireworks that must comply with the construction, chemical composition, and labeling regulations in the U.S.
Buzz bombs, bottle rockets, chasers, all firecrackers, handheld fireworks, helicopters, missiles, pin wheels, planes, Roman candles, skyrockets and torpedoes are all prohibited.
What fireworks are legal?
Some legal fireworks in Illinois include snake or glow worm pellets, smoke devices, trick noisemakers known as party poppers, booby traps, snappers, trick matches, cigarette loads, and auto burglar alarms, sparklers, toy pistols, toy canes, and toy guns.
Specifically, Illinois law doesn’t consider items containing less than 25 hundredths grains of explosive mixture to be a firework, meaning lower-level products or novelty fireworks, which are listed above.
Does my town have additional restrictions?
Fireworks may be further restricted by local ordinances.
While the Act says it is illegal to have, sell, or use fireworks, it also says local governments have the ability to adopt “reasonable rules and regulations for the granting of permits for pyrotechnic and consumer displays.”
Can I be arrested for setting off fireworks?
Yes. Violating the law is a class A misdemeanor, with fines ranging from $75 to $2,500.
Is Illinois the only state with firework restrictions?
Illinois and Vermont are two of three states limiting residents to sparklers or other novelty fireworks. The third state, Massachusetts, bans all fireworks.
Are there federal laws about this?
Federal law bans many types of fireworks such as M-80s, cherry bombs, along with any firework with more than 50 milligrams of pyrotechnic composition. Â
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Before shooting off those backyard fireworks in Illinois, here’s what is and isn’t legal
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal- Register / State Journal-Register
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