News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Crossville considering a change in the city’s firework ordinance that will allow the use of bottle rockets and allow businesses to sell them inside city limits.
The current law prohibits bottle rockets within city limits as they are labeled dangerous. Crossville Mayor RJ Crawford said the proposal to change the ordinance came after many businesses made complaints about the restrictions.
“This came about after many of the firework businesses in town were frustrated that the ordinance limited them from being able to sell bottle rockets,” Crawford said. “But people could literally go in some places 100 yards outside the city and buy them.”
The ordinance restricting the use and selling of bottle rockets was implemented in 1989. Crawford said he had no idea the city had an ordinance and did not discover it until the complaints were made.
“Every facility in this city is checked by the fire department and the codes department for safety so in the city we have that extra layer, so if there is a concern of safety it will be checked out by two of our departments,” Crossville City Manager Valerie Hale said.
Under current law, the penalty for selling bottle rockets in city limits is a misdemeanor and a fine. Repeat offenders could have selling permits revoked. According to Children’s Wisconsin Hospital, Bottle Rockets can blast off at nearly 200 miles per hour and are responsible for half of all firework-related eye injuries, including permanent blindness.
“I found out that we had an ordinance that didn’t allow it,” Crawford said. “So I asked if we could look at removing that and here we are.”
The Council will consider the idea next week.
