Salinas Police deploys extra officers looking for illegal fireworks

UPDATE 7/4/2016 10:17 PM: If you’re lighting fireworks on the Fourth of July in the city of Salinas, police said expect to get caught. On Monday, the department had 30 extra officers on streets looking for illegal fireworks.

“The most serious ones we see are bottle rockets the ones that go way up in the sky and explode,” said Sgt. Gerry Ross with the Salinas Police Department.

Just before 8 p.m. officers found 20 illegal fireworks, similar to rockets, at a home in north Salinas. Officers wrote the male homeowner a ticket after they caught him about to light up. He told police he got the fireworks from a friend in Nevada.

“Those are very dangerous because sometimes they will come down on top of houses and other buildings and they can start fires,” said Ross.

This year the department added officers because all fireworks, even the ‘Safe and Sane’ fireworks, are banned this Fourth of July. If you’re caught, be prepared to pay up to $1,250.

“Accidents happen. If they go off in a hand, someone can lose a hand, or even be killed by those,” said Ross.

Officers were hoping the public fireworks show at the Salinas Sports Complex would stop people from lighting off fireworks, but if not, there’s nothing stopping them from giving tickets.

“If you’re out there letting off fireworks don’t be surprised if the police find you because we have a lot of people out there looking,” said Ross.
Extra officers will be out patrolling through Tuesday morning.

PREVIOUS: Officers with the Salinas Police Department will be patrolling for illegal fireworks tonight. All fireworks, including “Safe and Sane” fireworks, are illegal in the city of Salinas this Fourth of July.

KION’s Monica Jacquez is going on a ride-along with officers and will have more at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.