12 replies to this topic

[The_Djinn]

There is enough law and legislation to deal with any issues at present. The members of the public that are complaining nead to realise a couple of things.. firstly this only tends to be an issue once a year and there is laws in place to restrict times etc. All BS fireworks fall within a reasonable db level as well. the other point is that the public nead to report offences to the police who in turn nead to deal with the offenders and not turn a blind eye. If the public feel that something is being done to uphold the existing laws they would probably not have as many complaints about noise and anti social behaviour.

No need for further regulation as far as I am concerned... there is enough as it is.

Mark

[fishy1]

clamp down on people using fireworks irresponsably.

[Andrew]

Just proper use of the laws that already exist would sort any problem. At the end of the day, it is the police that decide who get magazine licences, less places selling fireworks and proper control of the places that do.

The problem is that morons are always going to want to place their Darwin limited dirty mits on fireworks. They are always going to use them to attack people, destroy phone boxes and make it look like they are ?cool?. Supply is only one side of the triangle. You also need to catch the buggers (which is inherently difficult), and then punish them accordingly. If any one side of the triangle is taken away the di*ks that use firework illegally will get away with it. Stopping sale to the public is not an answer, they will buy fireworks on the black market or steal them.

[5thElement]

Enforcing existing laws would be better. I was at a display on the 5th and despite warnings over the tannoy system not to light your own fireworks within the place, there was still idiots lighting rockets in the crowd etc and the police did nothing about it!

[JamesH]

If a ruling was made in law so that quieter lower noise less antisocial garden and display fireworks were sold out of the main firework seasons and the noisier louder spectacular garden and display fireworks were limited to Nov5th and New Year would this be acceptable to firework fans? I feel this would be a more acceptable compromise and I personally have no problems with this;the results being that the youths won't want to misuse them being gentler and less likely to shock and/or upset animals/elderly people/young children etc with the absence of very loud noises that a lot of commercially available garden and display fireworks produce. Any views on this? Over to you!

How could this possibly be regulated! What if some people decide to purchase the louder more entertaining fireworks during the main fireworks seasons for use at a later date!
Sounds like a half baked idea to me!

[fishface]

Just proper use of the laws that already exist would sort any problem. At the end of the day, it is the police that decide who get magazine licences, less places selling fireworks and proper control of the places that do.

I couldn't agree more. Fireworks have big potential profit margins so unscrupulous retailers aren't bothered about who buys them. I'm not labelling all retailers here; just the majority who don't exercise common sense.

A good start would be for Trading Standards to increase the number of visits they make in the form of under-age kids trying to buy fireworks, and if the retailer sells to them, they should be banned from selling them for a period of time such as 3 years. It wouldn't solve the problem entirely, but it would send a powerful message to other retailers in the area.

[zookeeper]

Just a few thoughts from an American...

The state of New York has a total ban on consumer fireworks, and very heavy restrictions on display fireworks. This was accomplished by legislators slowly introducing limited restrictions and giving in to the 'complainers', leading to a total ban on all consumer fireworks, even wire 'sparklers'.

My advice would be to not compromise at all, for that may lead to a total ban.

...and I had WAY too much fun on 'Bonfire Night'

[EnigmaticBiker]

Just a few thoughts from an American...

The state of New York has a total ban on consumer fireworks, and very heavy restrictions on display fireworks. This was accomplished by legislators slowly introducing limited restrictions and giving in to the 'complainers', leading to a total ban on all consumer fireworks, even wire 'sparklers'.

My advice would be to not compromise at all, for that may lead to a total ban.

...and I had WAY too much fun on 'Bonfire Night'

I totally agree with you, small increments of regulation build up a body of legislation which is then used to impose further restrictions.

There are those frightened people who seek security by preventing others from doing anything they don't like or understand. Justifying it by citing any accidents, that will always happen.

Many people are risk takers and will find ways to have that risk, legally or illegally. eg. car driving speed was found to increase when seat belts were introduced.

Better enforcement via Trading Standards and Police seems more sensible.

[zookeeper]

I'm not sure what the laws regarding public and private displays are in England, but in New York state we may have BIG problems. Legislators are attempting to pass a new law that would make private displays illegal, no matter if the display is being presented by professional company.
If this proposal becomes law, the only entity that could conduct a display would be cities, towns, or other 'government body', with no private displays allowed, ie: weddings, summer festivals or sporting events. This action would devastate our industry.

I hope there is no such ideas in your country

[EnigmaticBiker]

I'm not sure what the laws regarding public and private displays are in England, but in New York state we may have BIG problems. Legislators are attempting to pass a new law that would make private displays illegal, no matter if the display is being presented by professional company.
If this proposal becomes law, the only entity that could conduct a display would be cities, towns, or other 'government body', with no private displays allowed, ie: weddings, summer festivals or sporting events. This action would devastate our industry.

I hope there is no such ideas in your country

I don't know about the reasons for clamping down on firework displays in New York State but it seems incredible to me that in a country which allows personal FIREARMS, fireworks should be a problem.

So it's OK to carry a semi-automatic .45cal loaded with hollowpoint shells, but not have a firework display?

[fishy1]

I don't know about the reasons for clamping down on firework displays in New York State but it seems incredible to me that in a country which allows personal FIREARMS, fireworks should be a problem.

So it's OK to carry a semi-automatic .45cal loaded with hollowpoint shells, but not have a firework display?

[sarcasm]guns don't kill people, fireworks do[/sarcasm]

[zookeeper]

I don't know about the reasons for clamping down on firework displays in New York State but it seems incredible to me that in a country which allows personal FIREARMS, fireworks should be a problem.

So it's OK to carry a semi-automatic .45cal loaded with hollowpoint shells, but not have a firework display?

Hehe...guns seem to be quite the 'sacred cow' to Americans, it is frustrating sometimes. You can own a .50 cal sniper rifle, but OH NO NO NO can't have a small drum of perchlorate

...and it's straight to jail for a drum of aluminum powder

[sarcasm]guns don't kill people, fireworks do[/sarcasm]

Edited by zookeeper, 02 February 2006 - 09:36 PM.