Politics & Government

No Children 16 or Younger Allowed to Play with Fireworks Inside Arnold

Another Arnold City ordinance has a 10 p.m. curfew on fireworks.

If you live in Arnold and plan to hold your own fireworks display to celebrate the Fourth of July, you're lucky. That’s because the sale, use and possession of fireworks in Jefferson County is legal.

North of the Meramec River, and in St. Louis County, fireworks possession is illegal.

“The ban also includes all 91 municipalities included within the county,” said Mac Scott, a St. Louis county spokesperson. “Violation of the law could cost between $50 and $1,000. The fee is at the discretion of the judge.”

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Rick Eckhard, a spokesman for the St. Louis County Police Department, said his office steps up patrols around the holiday and typically receives an increased number of calls regarding the use of fireworks. Eckhard did not have any statistics on the number of tickets handed out for fireworks violations.

“Please call us if you hear fireworks or know of someone igniting them,” he said.

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In Franklin, Jefferson and St. Charles counties, however, the use and sale of fireworks is permitted. However, some cities within those counties, such as St. Peter’s, have bans prohibiting the practice.

The City of Arnold prohibits parents or guardians from allowing children younger than 16 years old to use or play with fireworks within the city. Parents violating the ordinance face a $100 fine per violation, according to a copy of the ordinance provided by Mary Holden, Arnold's Director of Community Development, via email.

Fireworks use is permitted between noon and 10 p.m. from June 25-30, according to the ordinance. July 1-3, residents can use fireworks between noon and 11 p.m. On July 4, the fireworks must end by midnight. Fireworks can be used on July 5 from noon to 10 p.m., according to the ordinance. 

If you do plan on using fireworks to celebrate the holiday, the state has several regulations regarding ignitions. In Missouri, it is illegal to:

  • Set off fireworks within 600 feet of any church, hospital, mental health facility or school or within 100 feet of where fireworks are stored or sold
  • Ignite fireworks within 300 feet of any gas station or where gas is permanently stored
  • Throw fireworks from or into a motorized vehicle including watercraft or at or near any person

Additionally, the National Council on Fireworks Safety recommends the following common sense tips on using fireworks:

  • Only use fireworks outdoors.
  • Be sure to have a water supply nearby.
  • Wear safety glasses.
  • Read the instructions on the fireworks carefully and follow the directions.
  • Avoid alcohol.
  • Don’t try to relight a dud firework.
  • Soak spent fireworks with water before placing them in the trash.
  • Don’t use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.

Patch Associate Editor Sheri Gassaway contributed to this article.

 

Correction, 10:30 a.m. June 30: Fireworks can be used on July 5 in Arnold. An earlier version of this article said otherwise. The writer and editors erred.


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