L’Observateur / December 30, 2000

LAPLACE – With the holiday season upon us, it’s also fireworks season in the River Parishes, and fireworks retailers are preparing for their steady stream of customers.

And, with the sale and use of fireworks come the rules.

St. Charles Parish—The sale, storage, possession and firing or other use of fireworks of any type is prohibited within the parish. The only exception is for supervisedpublic displays of fireworks, provided the displayer first gets a fireworks display permit from the state fire marshal’s office and the company is insured with a minimum of $500,000 liability insurance.

Any displayer must give the sheriff’s office and the local fire department at least 10 days’ notice.

Maximum penalty for violation of this misdemeanor is a $100 fine or 30 days in jail or both.

St. John the Baptist Parish—It is unlawful for any person, persons, groups, firm or agency to discharge any type of fireworks or small explosives usually associated with holiday celebrations, other than specifically provided for.

Exceptions are allowed for Independence Day, Christmas Eve, Chrismas Day and New Year’s Day, from sundown to 10 p.m.; and New Year’s Eve, fromsundown to 1 a.m.All fireworks use will be under the supervision of responsible adults and anyone under age 15 may not discharge fireworks without adult supervision.

Retail sales of fireworks are restricted to seven days in advance of the holiday and no fireworks may be sold within 1,000 feet of any facility making, using, handling or storing flammable material, or used within 1,000 feet of such facility.

Also, fireworks may not be sold nearer than 500 feet of any residence, school, hospital, nursing home or church, or used with 500 feet of such facilities, if occupied.

Fireworks may not be discharged near paper, dry grass, wood or wood pulp and shall not be modified from their original design.

Other use of fireworks for political, educational, religious, sporting, charity or similar special event may be done with written permission of the sheriff’s office and parish Civil Defense Department. Liability insurance of $2 million ismandatory.

Maximum penalty for violation of this misdemeanor is a fine from $50 to $500.

Town of Gramercy— It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, exchange, barter or in any other matter dispose of or use, fire, shoot, discharge or set off fireworks of any make.

Town of Lutcher— It is unlawful for any person to have, keep, store, use, manufacture, offer to sell, handle or transport any fireworks within the town limits.

An exception is made only for fireworks displays in public parks or other open places, where a permit has been issued by the mayor and board of aldermen.

St. James Parish—No person shall explode or ignite fireworks on private property without the permission of the owner or occupant and such use is confined to that property. Also, no one shall use fireworks in such a manner as to causedamage to surrounding property or buildings.

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