Fireworks Amnesty Being Offered in Maryland

WTOP.com ^ | Jun 21st - 5:24pm

[Perdogg]

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- If you own fireworks in Montgomery or Prince George's counties, fire authorities have two options for you: pay a steep fine or go to Six Flags Great Adventure.

People who get caught with fireworks, even sparklers, could face a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. But with July 4 fast approaching, both counties are offering an amnesty program -- trade in your fireworks and receive Six Flags coupons.

Pete Piringer, spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, says last year alone, 12,000 fireworks were turned in to fire investigators.

[ExpatGator]

What a pussyfied state. How low we have fallen...

[AmericaUnited]

I would buy a $2 box of sparklers and turn them in to get the $30-$40 ticket.

[VeritatisSplendor]

Long Island has the most fireworks of any place where they're illegal that I've ever seen. Drive down the L.I.E. on the Fourth and nice big ones are going off all around you. Italian cultural contribution.

Mrs VS

[rightwinggoth]

So not even setting off fireworks, but simply possessing them will get you fined and put in jail? Crazy. I'm not even going to ask about the gun laws in these counties.

[Barnacle]

Maryland... And I thought Illinois was bad.

[Barnacle]

Pete Piringer, spokesman for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, says last year alone, 12,000 fireworks were turned in to fire investigators.

Some kid must have wanted to go to Six Flags pretty bad to sacrifice half of his stash like that.

[monkapotamus]

[The_Reader_David]

Whenever July 4th or November 5th approach, I like to muse on the fact that English speaking people everywhere set off fireworks to commemorate acts of treason against the British Crown. Those of us not subject to the Crown commemorate an eminently successful one, those still subject to the Crown commemorate an unsuccessful one.

[Vision]

To be honest, sometimes it is. I live in a good area, but it's only a mile or so to...unpleasantness. I think I heard a shot last night actually and hear them a few times a month. But I do see the fireworks too.

[NonValueAdded]

Wouldn't that be hot burning fingers?

[Paladin2]

I'm thinkin' there's a 2nd Amendment penumbra covering fireworks. My kids can't believe that we can't buy firecrackers or bottle rockets. Heck, when I was a kid, they could be purchased in Canada and smuggled into the US!

[Paladin2]

Doesn't the sun get hot and cause dangerous global warming too?

[Road Warrior ‘04]

John Adams, a signer of the Declaration, our first vice president and second president, urged that July Fourth “be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” So, go forth. Celebrate. Pursue happiness. It is the patriotic thing to do.

Except in Montgomery and Prince George's counties, that is!

[Perdogg]

Those counties are so far to the left they will probably celebrate Caesar Chavez day before they celebrate the fourth.

[Thunder90]

From the same state that wanted to ban all firearms, even BB guns.

[ABN 505]

Maryland... And I thought Illinois was bad. In Mass. they send the state police up to New Hampshire to spy on any cars from Mass, that are in the fireworks parking lot and they stop the cars and confiscate said items if they cross back into Mass.Hard to believe the revolutionary war started there. Thats why cops got the best fireworks!

[Thunder90]

MA has a virtual ban on guns as well. Where guns are illegal, fireworks are as well.

[Cobra64]

"The sparkler is not at all innocuous. It is very dangerous. It gets very hot, it can cause serious injury."

[Cobra64]

I'm not even going to ask about the gun laws in these counties.

These are okay.

[michigander]

trade in your fireworks and receive Six Flags coupons.

Find out where you can claim your coupons, launch your fireworks in that direction and go claim your coupons.

Get some of your tax money back. Quite nice of them actually.