Police continue crackdown on firework possession

Police are continuing to make a point of cracking down on fireworks.

Due to the department continuing to be inundated with fireworks complaints, last night three people were arrested by Woonsocket Police for possessing illegal fireworks. It is a misdemeanor to possess illegal fireworks if the total value is under $500. It is a felony if the value is over $500.

Robert Jackson, 58, of Providence was charged with felony possession of fireworks, having over $600 worth of fireworks.

Jayson Buitrago Clausell, 27, of Village Road was charged with misdemeanor possession of fireworks.

Mark Mills, 40, of Sayles Street was charged with misdemeanor possession of fireworks.

In Rhode Island, only ground and hand-held sparkling devices (“sparklers”) are legal for use by the general public. These devices are ground based or hand-held devices that produce a shower of white, gold, or colored sparks as their primary pyrotechnic effect. Additional effects may include a colored flame, an audible crackling effect, an audible whistle effect, and smoke. These devices do not rise into the air, do not fire inserts or projectiles into the air, and do not explode or produce a report. (A mild audible crackling-type effect is not considered to be a report.) Ground-based or hand-held devices that produce a cloud of smoke as their sole pyrotechnic effect are also included in this category.

Rhode Island General Law § 11-13-1 states that no one can sell, use or possess display fireworks or aerial consumer fireworks. Certain fireworks and devices that are exempt from the definitions of display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks include but are not limited to:

Ground-based & hand-held sparkling devices
Fountains
Illuminating torches, wheels, spinners, flitter sparklers
Sparklers, party poppers, snappers, toy smoke devices, snakes, glow worms, wire sparklers & dipped sticks

Any firecrackers, rockets, mortars, or any other device that launches a projecile and/or makes a “bang”/detonation/report are illegal per RIGL § 11-13-1.