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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 281-05
July 20, 2005

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION INCREASING PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

“The next bill before me is Introductory number 431-A sponsored by Council Members Oddo, Lanza, Gallagher, Nelson, Avella, McMahon, Provenzano, Quinn, Reed, Stewart, Clarke, Comrie, Fidler, Katz, Liu, Reyna, Rivera, Vallone, Weprin, Jackson, Sears and Gennaro. This bill creates a civil penalty for discharging fireworks without a permit.

“Introductory number 431-A provides the City with another penalty option for illegal fireworks by making persons who use or discharge fireworks within the City without a permit liable for a civil penalty of $750.  This is in addition to the $250 criminal penalty. Illegal use of fireworks causes severe injuries to adults and children every year, especially during the summer months.  Since 1995, injuries due to fireworks have decreased from 56 per year to eight, and there were one third as many structural fires on this July 4th as there were ten years ago. Despite these improvements, there remains too much illegal use of fireworks, as was particulary evident on Staten Island this last July 4th.  This Administration is unequivocally committed to stamping out this lawlessness. This bill will help to curb the illegal use of fireworks and bring down the number of fireworks-related injuries and fires that occur in New York City each summer. 

“I would like to thank Nick Scoppetta, the Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department, and the City Council for their work on this bill.”







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz   (212) 788-2958




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