NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson amended its fireworks ordinance at the City Council on Tuesday.
"This change now includes the sale and discharge of aerial fireworks," said Fire Marshal Mike Cain. "The dates stay the same. The times stay the same. The only other real minute change is you're not allowed to discharge except on private property unless you get a special use permit."
The reason to add the special use permit is because that's what block parties that close the streets already have to do to get them closed in the first place.
"That was one of our biggest issues over the years," Cain said. "People have a block party. Those streets are barricaded. I don't see the issue with them shooting in the street if the street is barricaded I don't see the problem with them doing that during a block party, if they go through the process of getting the special use permit."
However, shooting in the street when streets are open is against the new ordinance, because that is not private property. The only specific device prohibition in the new regulations is no bottle rockets. Also, a regulation against Sky Lanterns or Aerial Luminaries is being allowed to continue to stand that is part of another section of city code. Also, adults will be held responsible for juvenile offenses of the new regulations.
"If you want to let your kids out and shoot, great," Cain said. "If they are doing something illegal with them, then the adult is now responsible and is assumed to have given them consent or permission to do that illegal activity."
Other than that, fireworks will be generally allowed from 8:00 a.m. on June 30 through 11:00 p.m. on July 4. Those are the same hours when fireworks will be able to be legally sold. The county will take up its new fireworks regulations next week, but they are expected to be the same.
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