Law enforcement and fire inspector teams heavily enforce the laws that govern the use of fireworks in neighborhoods, especially during the July 4th holiday period. To do this Clark County and local law enforcement agencies introduced the “You Light It, We Write It” enforcement campaign to regulate and monitor the use of illegal fireworks. Only fireworks labeled “Safe and Sane” are allowed and only during certain holidays and when locally licensed and inspected fireworks stands are permitted to sell them. All fireworks, including those labeled “Safe and Sane,” are a concern during the spring and summer months when the threat of wildland fire is highest in Southern Nevada. Neighborhood concerns about noise, litter, and the use of illegal fireworks purchased outside the Las Vegas Valley also are common. Partners in the “You Light It, We Write It” effort include Clark County, local cities, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) and the Nevada Highway Patrol.
“Safe and sane” fireworks include sparklers and fireworks that keep to a small, circular area on the ground and don’t explode in the air. Illegal fireworks include firecrackers, roman candles and skyrockets. As well as any item made of highly combustible materials. Fireworks purchased from vendors located outside Clark County are likely to be illegal, including those purchased from vendors in Pahrump, Amargosa Valley and from the Moapa Band of Paiutes.
Offenders caught using illegal fireworks in Clark County and the city of Las Vegas are subject to fines of $500 to $10,000. Legislation approved in 2021 by the Nevada State Legislature allows for fines of up to $10,000 for large amounts of illegal fireworks found within a community.
Fire inspectors from both jurisdictions annually team up with LVMPD officers over the July Fourth holiday to crack down on the use and possession of illegal fireworks in local neighborhoods. As part of the “You Light It, We Write It” effort, the public is encouraged to report illegal fireworks complaints online at www.ISpyFireworks.com rather than calling 911 or 311. In 2023, the ISpy site logged approximately 12,463 complaints from June 28 through July 4, including more than 10,199 on July 4. Reports to the ISpy website do not result in a police dispatch. Instead, the data is used to document problem areas and plan future law enforcement efforts. Officials remind the public that 911 should only be used to report life-threatening police, fire and medical emergencies. The public may call 311, the police non-emergency number, to report illegal fireworks usage complaints but callers are asked to exercise patience, especially on busy nights like the Fourth of July, when dispatchers must prioritize emergency responses.
Residents also may share usage alerts on Social Media using the #YouLightItWeWriteIt hashtag.
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