Brandon Twp.- Fireworks are popular at this time of year, but not everyone is a fan, particularly animals.
After a woman was injured by a horse spooked by fireworks this week, police are reminding residents the township has an ordinance that governs use of fireworks and anyone not following the ordinance will be ticketed.
‘The township ordinance has to be followed, and if it is not, we will be issuing the appropriate tickets,? said Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Greg Glover, Brandon substation commander.
Such was the case on June 13, when deputies responded to a home in the 5100 block of Oakwood Road and issued a citation to a man there for disturbing the peace after the deputies witnessed bottle rockets shot off from the location. Earlier in the evening, a woman had called police after she was injured while putting away her horse that was spooked by the fireworks. At that time, the suspect and several men at the location where she said the fireworks were being lit denied they had shot them off. One of the men had said they were being lit off everywhere.
Glover noted horses are not the only animals spooked by fireworks and residents have been complaining about dogs barking non-stop. Additionally, many residents are bothered by fireworks that continually go off late at night just as they are trying to go to sleep. Residents can call police if the fireworks are being used on a day that is not permitted and tickets will be issued to offenders.
The township board passed a fireworks ordinance in the fall of 2013 that makes it unlawful for any person to ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks except on the day preceding, the day of, or the day after a national holiday, includ-ing New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday; Washington’s birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran’s Day; Thanksgiving; and Christmas. On those days, the ignition, discharge, or use of consumer fireworks will be prohibited between midnight and 8 a.m. or between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
Fireworks are permitted between the hours of 8 p.m. and midnight on the Friday and Saturday immediately preceding and immediately following the 4th of July holiday.
The ordinance also stipulates that a person shall not ignite, discharge or use consumer fireworks on public property, school property, church property, or the property of another person without that organization’s or person’s express permission at any time, and the possession or use of consumer fireworks at any time by a minor is prohibited.