The Coeur d’Alene City Council will consider amending its municipal code Tuesday so police can crack down on illegal fireworks.

The change would allow police to cite someone for allowing illegal fireworks to be ignited on private property, rather than requiring them to see the person lighting the fireworks. 

“You can still be extremely patriotic, purchase the Safe and Sane, go out and have a little fireworks show in your neighborhood,” said Councilor Christie Wood. “It's just, we don’t want you burning somebody’s house down keeping people up all night.” 

Coeur d’Alene Police Capt. Dave Hagar recently told the General Services Committee that the city allows ground fireworks that do not fly high into the sky. 

“They can be contained on a driveway, if you will,” Hagar said. 

But Hagar said citizens can drive 30 miles south, where they can buy commercial-grade fireworks and large mortars. Generally, people in Coeur d’Alene start lighting fireworks two weeks before the Fourth of July, and the fireworks continue for a few weeks afterward. Most are illegal, with loud explosions that rattle homes, adversely affect some residents and terrify dogs. 

“We receive calls throughout summer for these things,” Hagar said.  

Police have added overtime shifts and special patrols to address it.

“The problem that we have, we actually have to see somebody light it off,” Hagar said. 

Even if they arrive at a property where illegal fireworks are being deployed, police can’t do anything “because we don’t know who lit it.” 

“At the end of the day, we're not out there just to write tickets. That doesn’t solve the problem,” Hagar said. 

A solution may be at hand. 

According to a staff report, “Council should direct Staff to draft amendments to City Code Title 8, Chapter 8.12, Fireworks, regarding enforcement against responsible parties of properties within the City who allow illegal fireworks to be deployed from private property in violation of the ordinance, and any other amendments deemed advisable.” 

Hagar said that means the property owner, even if not there, could be cited for illegal fireworks.  

“Whoever is responsible for that, we could then hold accountable,” he said. 

The staff report said similar ordinances are used in college towns to address party houses near campuses, as they allow enforcement action against parties ultimately responsible for the property’s use.  

“In this case, we would conduct a large educational component with the amended ordinance to provide prior warning of the expanded responsibility in an effort to prevent the use of illegal fireworks and provide law enforcement the latitude of enforcement when violations are discovered,” the report said. 

Wood said she supported the proposal. 

She said the City Council receives complaints about illegal fireworks that keep people up all night, frighten pets and create fire hazards. Veterans with PTSD have said the explosions bring back memories of war. 

“These are really valid concerns,” Wood said. “It's been difficult to address.” 

She said the amendment to the municipal code would give police “a little bit of teeth” when it comes to citing people for illegal fireworks. 

"We haven't had that before,” Wood said. “I would absolutely support this moving forward to council.” 

Councilor Dan English questioned whether the change would result in more calls to police and stretch resources, but Hagar said he didn’t believe that would be a problem. 

“It’s just going to allow us, once we get there, we can take some action,” he said. 

English said a key to the success of the code amendment would involve getting the word out. 

“Lots of publicity about it,” he said. 

The City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. in the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Community Room. 

    Wood