How to stop illegal fireworks.
By Amber
@AmbiePam (122595)
United States
July 9, 2026 11:20am CST
I think most of us have been bothered by illegal fireworks at one time or another. Someone figured out a really good way of cutting down on the frequency of it. In Sacramento, California, they handed out over $300,000 worth of fines for illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July weekend. They used a drone to track where the fireworks were coming from, sent someone to the residence for questioning, and handed out the fines. ONE house alone got a fine of $100,000. You may think that’s too much, but they showed drone footage of what that particular house was doing, and it was like an illegal professional fireworks show.
Next year, Sacramento plans to add two more drones. They say they are doing this because they need the fire crews free for emergencies; not firecracker induced chaos. Which makes sense to me.
11 people like this
11 responses
@FourWalls (87539)
• United States
9 Jul
Good for them. I wish we’d go back to sprinklers and just let the professionals do the fireworks. There were news reports of a child being killed by a misfired device, and a dad lost two fingers grabbing a lit bottle rocket from his daughter.
Now, putting the fine out there and actually collecting it are two different things. 
I wish people who take 10% of the money they spend on fireworks and give it to help veterans with PTSD or animal shelters, then put the other 90% they’d spend in their own savings account.
I wish people who take 10% of the money they spend on fireworks and give it to help veterans with PTSD or animal shelters, then put the other 90% they’d spend in their own savings account.4 people like this
@FourWalls (87539)
• United States
14h
@AmbiePam — one thing with home ownership is they can levy the fine against the property, meaning that it gets paid or the property gets taken.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (93228)
• Bangalore, India
23h
OMG! That amount of fine is insane. Did they really collect it?
Hope people learn their lesson the fine way
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (122595)
• United States
3h
@arunima25 The people with the $100,000 fine can afford that fine. They showed the home that it happened at, and it was a million dollar home. They might get it whittled down, but it will cost them a lot of lawyer fees to do it. In the end, no matter what, they’re going to lose money.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (93228)
• Bangalore, India
4h
@AmbiePam Hmm...a huge amount to pay. Not sure if everyone will be able to. Also, people often find loops and holes to escape from such situations.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169957)
• United States
14h
And someone will be whining about "It is not fair" or "It is my right". Sometimes it is people who CAN afford the fireworks, and CAN afford the fine, but there are an awful lot of struggling people out there who do not have the money to spare for the fireworks, but buy them anyway. I wish they were not so readily available.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (210396)
• United States
19h
Makes sense..they are so dry there too, you don't want a stray firework causing another huge wildfire.
2 people like this
@LooeyVille (44)
• United States
20h
Yes I wish my city would do that as well. Fireworks aren’t safe in the hands of Amateurs
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (123091)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13h
That is a good idea since someone can get hurt dealing with being hit by an illegal fireworks display.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (10195)
• Calcutta, India
4h
I kinda hate fireworks. I know its an unpopular thing. But I just hate the sight and sound of fireworks.
1 person likes this
