Those wishing to shoot off consumer-grade fireworks in Oxford Township will have only 30 days to do so from now on as officials last week voted 5-0 to ban them for the other 335 days a year.
The ordinance ? which will take effect immediately when published as a public notice in this newspaper on Wednesday, Sept. 26 ? prohibits the ignition, discharge and use of consumer-grade fireworks every day except those specifically mentioned in the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, which took effect Jan. 1.
Consumer-grade fireworks include things such as Roman candles, bottle rockets and certain aerial shells not exceeding 1.75 inches in diameter. Basically, the category encompasses many fireworks that leave the ground and explode in the air.
State law legalized the selling of consumer-grade fireworks and the unlimited use of them on the day before, the day of and the day after the 10 national holidays.
Those holidays are New Year’s Day, the birthdays of Martin Luther King, Jr. and George Washington, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Although local municipalities can do absolutely nothing to regulate people’s use of fireworks during those 30 days (such as banning them or putting time limits on their use), they can control the other 335 days any way they see fit.
The Oxford Village Council approved 5-0 an identical ordinance banning consumer-grade fireworks at its Aug. 28 meeting.