Sam Clemens with the SFPD had a press conference the other day to announce that this year the SFPD will be handing out mostly violations for persons using fireworks within city limits (that are prohibited) instead of warnings.

He said calls in 2014 were around 300 and last year they were 500, he basically said it is getting a little out of control.

I was disappointed last year when the SFPD only handed out warnings. Not only is it noise pollution (do you really have to light firecrackers all night long?) it is a massive fire hazard.

I’m glad to see the SFPD will be treating people who are potential accidental arsonists the same as people who don’t mow their lawns. I should have been done years ago.

Now I need to dig out my earplugs.

11 Thoughts on “A Crackdown on Firecrackers in the city?

  1. I assumed the order to start enforcing the law came from huether, since 500 tickets at $95 each would generate $47,500 in revenue and huether in looking for income anywhere he can get it.

  2. The D@ily Spin on June 30, 2016 at 6:01 pm said:

    A combat vet hates fireworks. Firecrackers sound like AK-47. Anything that whistles is incoming mortars. You’d understand if you experienced. It’s make it stop but it doesn’t. After sunset on July 4th I sleep on the floor between bed and dresser with radio at high volume.

    Enjoy and celebrate but be careful and respect your neighbors.

  3. The cops going from ignoring the law for years to full enforcement overnight is one thing, but threatening 10 years in prison?

    http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2016/06/30/police-modifying-fireworks-could-get-you-10-years-prison/86556422/

    Scare tactics now? North Korea called:”I’m Kim Jong Un and I approve of this message.”

  4. l3wis on July 1, 2016 at 3:13 am said:

    Sheeple, it reminds me of when they closed the loop downtown and enforced a ‘zero tolerance’ rule. Shortly after the rule was in place, an officer followed me on my bicycle as I rode from about 6th street to 12th street on Phillips avenue. The last couple of feet I coasted my bike on the sidewalk to chain it up (this was at 10 PM at night with absolutely NO ONE on the sidewalk). The officer gave me a $75 dollar ticket.

  5. kindlergentlerobg on July 1, 2016 at 7:12 am said:

    freaks out pets for sure worse if they are confined
    someone set off 2 sticks of dynamite within 3 miles of me
    other day hohohohoo dont blow nuthin off
    go long flame retardant and ballistic glass laminates
    america rest in pieces at this rate

    obg unstylized
    ps why didnt the guy selling the bettie page call me
    ileft my digits in a post
    IAaL

  6. Fun hater on July 1, 2016 at 7:21 am said:

    It’s a dumb law. I should have known with all the stuff you complain about that you would complain about having fun and celebrating America too. Communists, the whole lot of ya.

  7. The D@ily Spin on July 1, 2016 at 7:29 am said:

    I encourage all those ticketed to clog the courts with appeals. No doubt this is another Huether revenue robbery. We, the people, formulate our own process. Local government has become corrupt from treachery and tyranny.

  8. l3wis on July 1, 2016 at 8:52 am said:

    Fun Hater, I don’t have a problem with fireworks, my grandparents used to have a big display every year when I was growing up. But it was out in the country. The noise doesn’t bother me either. The only thing I worry about is when non-professionals with too many Budweiser Americas in them shoot bottle rockets on people’s houses especially with how dry it has been. There is a reason they ask people to use them out of city limits.

  9. l3wis on July 1, 2016 at 8:53 am said:

    OBG, shoot me an email the next time you are in town. I will sell the painting to you.

    fb.art@sio.midco.net

  10. In 2015 there were 265 fireworks complaint calls over the 4th of July weekend and 2 tickets written.

    So the huether-marketed police department decided they were going to crack down on fireworks. They led a twitter campaign and news stories in the Argus that included a threatening that if you modify your fireworks you could face 10 years in prison.

    They added extra patrols so they could deal with all the ‘offenders’. Promising $95 tickets would be written.

    Today? we hear they received 2,004 firework complaint calls and responded to 1,214 of them.

    Only 14 tickets were written.

    From the KELO story:

    Because of the large call volume, officers had higher priority calls such as assaults and injuries that superseded fireworks violations.

    “We’ve heard from people that there’s been a lot of frustration, that they’ve called in fireworks complaints and either nothing’s been done about it, or the fireworks continue,” Clemens said.

    “He urged the public to keep calling in reports of violations because police hope for a quieter week and a better chance of catching people in the act.”

    So their poorly thought out plan and non-related threats of prison time didn’t work. I hope the over-time was worth it. At least the police are happy.

    I’m guessing those 14 tickets didn’t cover the cost.

    What’s next, a jaywalking campaign? How about spitting on the sidewalk?

  11. Redrocket on July 5, 2016 at 1:54 pm said:

    Don’t blame the officers. Find out who gave the order and hold them accountable.

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