(Spirit Lake)– Leave the fireworks to the professionals. That advice from local law enforcement agencies as we head into the Fourth of July holiday period.
Typically this time of year some people take the short trek to South Dakota to purchase fireworks that aren’t legal in Iowa. Not only do you stand a chance of being caught for illegally transporting fireworks once you get back into Iowa, but there’s even a stronger chance of getting caught when you set it off.
Spirit Lake Police Chief Jon Martyr says the only types of fireworks that can be legally purchased in Iowa is sparklers, snakes and caps. Illegal fireworks includes anything containing blank cartridges, gun powder or any other type of explosive including fire crackers, torpedos, sky rockets, roman candles, or other similar fireworks.
Martyr says enforcement of fireworks violations is mostly complaint driven. Shooting off illegal fireworks is a misdemeanor punishable by a citation and fine.
