Fireworks of any kind remain illegal to use inside the city limits, but that is not stopping some folks from lighting them up.
Most South Texas communities have canceled their Fourth of July celebrations. That means more people are buying their own fireworks.
“Business has been great this year. People are looking for something to do. It is a great way to still social distance and have fun with your family. Nothing else is open and business has been pretty darn good,” said Discount Fireworks Owner Albert Wagner.
This means more people might be planning to set off fireworks in their backyards.
“So any open fireworks we will confiscate, and you can receive a citation per open fireworks. So say you bought a packet of 80 and you open that packet up, that would be 80 citations. Each citation can go up to $2,000 per municipal court citation,” said CCPD Captain Trenade Paddock-Roberts.
The Corpus Christi Police Department has a team that is focused on fireworks enforcement on the holiday. Last year the Department had more than 250 calls while handing out 13 citations.
“As more calls come in, and we have available units, they would be dispatched as well. So any of our officers that are on the street would be able to go to a fireworks call,” said Roberts.
Catching people in the act is key for officers.
“It is hard to catch people because you know they are going up in the air, and we are getting the calls, and by the time we get over there, they are either already done, or we can’t pinpoint exactly where they are coming from,” said Roberts
Anyone with information on individuals or locations discharging illegal fireworks is encouraged to contact the Corpus Christi Police Department’s non-emergency line at (361) 886-2600. Do not call 911for firework complaints.
