The pop, crackle and whiz of fireworks this July 4 may be a little quieter than normal as supply-chain issues have caused shortages of the dazzle devices and caused cities to cancel several public displays.
Here’s what you need to know about buying fireworks for use at home or finding a show.
Are fireworks legal in Arizona?
In general, the kinds that are illegal are those that are most likely to annoy your neighbor — the ones that shoot up in the air and make loud noises. Those are considered unsafe for at-home use.
If you’re caught setting them off in certain cities, you could face a hefty penalty.
Glendale’s fines are the highest in the Valley. The citation for a first offense is $1,500, and $2,000 for the second offense.
Glendale City Council members, when increasing the fines a couple of years ago, said they wanted to send a clear message: Illegal use of fireworks won’t be tolerated. They said the increase was intended as more of an education campaign than anything else.
That’s because, in Arizona, police must actually witness the use of the illegal fireworks to issue a citation. That makes it hard to catch offenders.
In 2019, for example, Glendale police responded to 735 calls for service related to the illegal use of fireworks, but only wrote up one offense report.
Size: Mesa police confiscate illegal fireworks valued at nearly $12K
What types of fireworks are legal in Arizona?
Fireworks permissible to use year-round in Arizona include: sparklers, smoker devices, and novelty fireworks such as snakes, party poppers and snappers.
Other types of fireworks are allowed seasonally, for holidays such as New Year’s and the Fourth of July, from June 24 to July 6 and Dec. 24 to Jan 3. This includes: ground spinners, sparkling