Thursday June 21, 2007, 4:19 PM
Would-be fireworks smugglers, beware: Police are on the prowl for the patriotic contraband.
From now until the Fourth of July, more state troopers will patrol the Delaware River crossings along the state's border with Pennsylvania to stem the flow of illegal fireworks into New Jersey, State Police said today. Last year, a similar Independence Day crackdown resulted in the arrest of 48 people and the confiscation of between 500 and 1,000 cases of illegal fireworks, police said.
A focus of this year's initiative will be monitoring who drives into Pennsylvania to buy fireworks and brings them back into New Jersey. Computerized message boards along the state's major highways are also blaring warnings about the crackdown. "Fireworks are illegal and extremely dangerous," said First Assistant Attorney General Anne Milgram. "Each year thousands are seriously injured or maimed. A time of celebration can turn into tragedy. We want New Jersey residents to celebrate the Fourth of July safely and legally."
"The majority of illegal fireworks are brought into New Jersey by adults, but children are often the ones who suffer the injuries," added Col. Rick Fuentes, State Police superintendent. "We want to stop illegal fireworks before more people are hurt."
New Jersey law makes it a crime to use, sell or possess any kind of fireworks, even sparklers.
Would-be fireworks smugglers, beware: Police are on the prowl for the patriotic contraband.
From now until the Fourth of July, more state troopers will patrol the Delaware River crossings along the state's border with Pennsylvania to stem the flow of illegal fireworks into New Jersey, State Police said today. Last year, a similar Independence Day crackdown resulted in the arrest of 48 people and the confiscation of between 500 and 1,000 cases of illegal fireworks, police said.
A focus of this year's initiative will be monitoring who drives into Pennsylvania to buy fireworks and brings them back into New Jersey. Computerized message boards along the state's major highways are also blaring warnings about the crackdown. "Fireworks are illegal and extremely dangerous," said First Assistant Attorney General Anne Milgram. "Each year thousands are seriously injured or maimed. A time of celebration can turn into tragedy. We want New Jersey residents to celebrate the Fourth of July safely and legally."
"The majority of illegal fireworks are brought into New Jersey by adults, but children are often the ones who suffer the injuries," added Col. Rick Fuentes, State Police superintendent. "We want to stop illegal fireworks before more people are hurt."
New Jersey law makes it a crime to use, sell or possess any kind of fireworks, even sparklers.