Penalty for Illegally Shooting Fireworks in Minnesota

As the Fourth of July approaches, in just over a month, evening fireworks will be set off in Minnesota. Stearns County Prosecutor Janelle Kendall joined me on WJON. She says violators of Minnesota's fireworks laws rarely come to her office, with most of these violations falling into the misdemeanor or misdemeanor category. Kendall says non-professionals who set off fireworks also run the risk of injury and/or setting buildings on fire.

Specifically prohibited by Minnesota law:

• Firecrackers, torpedoes, missiles, rockets, bottle rockets, Roman candles, daytime bombs, fighters, parachutes. mines and shells.

Specifically permitted by Minnesota law:

• Sparklers made of wire or wood containing no more than 100 grams of pyrotechnic composition per item.
• Ground-based, non-explosive, non-airborne sparkling devices (firework wrappers do not leave the ground).
• Contain 75 grams or less of pyrotechnic powder/chemical mixture per tube or a total of 500 grams or less for multiple tube items.
• Approved consumer fireworks include fountains, cones, flares, wheels, ground spinners, sparklers, flashing/strobing signals, snakes, glow worms, noise makers, poppers party and snappers.

If you would like to listen to my conversation with Janelle Kendall, it is available below.

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