Lighting fireworks in Hermosa Beach, including those labeled “safe and sane,” just became much more costly.
At its June 25 meeting, the Hermosa Beach City Council substantially increased fines for setting off illegal fireworks from $1,500 to $5,000. The council also set a $5,000 fine for anyone hosting a party where fireworks are being set off in the city.
Before, the city could fine $250 for someone shooting off illegal fireworks under a city municipal code, which was adopted from a Los Angeles County Fire code.
But, with council’s approval of an emergency ordinance on Tuesday, fines will be increased to $1,500 for the first violation, $3,000 for the second violation and $5,000 for the third violation.
Adoption of the ordinance comes just weeks after several people reported minor injuries when a group of teens were allegedly involved in throwing fireworks while riding bikes on Pier Plaza.
Councilmember Rob Saemann said shooting off fireworks in the city is nothing new.
“I can remember 20 explosions in one night about a week ago, laying there in bed trying to go to sleep, and boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, going off for two hours,” Saemann said at Tuesday’s meeting, adding “It seems to be getting worse and I think that we need to do something about it.”
Hermosa Beach isn’t the only city dealing with illegal fireworks use and possession, said Councilmember Raymond Jackson.
“Anybody who’s lived in the city, anybody who’s here on any given night, knows that there’s a challenge in this city, as there are in other cities,” Jackson said.
Hermosa Beach Police Chief Paul LeBaron said at Tuesday’s meeting over the past five years, there have been eight arrests or citations given to those who have detonated fireworks and another three for possession of fireworks.
There were also two additional cases that were investigated where no suspect could be identified, LeBaron added.
“There have only been two that were not charged of the citations and arrests that we made,” LeBaron said of the 11 total arrests or citations given. “They were based off of criminal considerations, on search and seizure issues, but all the others were charged by our city prosecutor.”
LeBaron added there are other prosecution methods when it comes to violent crimes.
“There are absolutely different pathways we would take when somebody endangers another person, juvenile or not, with the use of fireworks,” LeBaron said. “The likelihood is it would be an assault with a deadly weapon investigation, and then we would go off of traditional investigative techniques, which include witnesses, victims, who’s willing to prosecute, all of those things.”
