The Fourth of July is fast approaching and many area residents are stocking up on bottle rockets, sparklers and firecrackers. We’ve summarized Indiana’s Fireworks Laws below so that you can stay safe and legal this Independence Day.
Indiana Code 22-11-14-6 allows you to discharge fireworks on your property until 11 PM. On a legal holiday (which by statute includes every Sunday) you may discharge fireworks up until midnight.
You may only discharge fireworks on your own property, on property that you have permission to use, or at a special discharge location authorized by the fire department having jurisdiction. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have an adult present in order to possess or use fireworks. Discharging or possessing fireworks in violation of IC 22-11-14-6 is punishable a Class C Infraction.
The Downtown Evansville Economic Improvement District announced that the July Fourth Fireworks on the Ohio display will take place this year at approximately 9:15 PM along Riverside Drive between Court Street and Cherry Street. Residents who elect not to attend a professional display may be tempted to discharge their own fireworks at an unsafe location. Damaging another person’s property with fireworks is punishable as a Class A Misdemeanor. Causing serious injury to another person with fireworks is punishable as a Level 6 Felony. Under IC 35-45-3-2 a person who places or leaves a spent firework on the property of another person commits Littering as a Class B Infraction.
Vanderburgh County Code 12.24.010(u) prohibits the possession or discharge of fireworks within a county-maintained park. The City of Evansville further restricts the use of fireworks within the corporate limits. The Evansville Municipal Code regulating fireworks may be found here.
Sheriff Noah Robinson explained, “While Indiana’s fireworks law is fairly permissive, there are limits as to where you can discharge them. Our Office wants everyone to enjoy the Fourth of July holiday, we just ask that residents be considerate of their neighbors and exercise a little common sense.â€
The days surrounding July 4 are always the days with the highest levels of fine particle pollution in Evansville. Fireworks are not only dangerous to handle but also can cause severe health issues for those with respiratory disease like Asthma, COPD, heart issues and stroke. Exposure to the acrid smoke from fireworks is particularly dangerous for young kids and the elderly.
Recently, area residents, especially those who inhabit the central part of the city, have been exposed to numerous serious air pollution incidents from the two massive warehouse fires that we’ve had which cause fine particle levels to rise to very dangerous levels for everyone, not just those with chronic respiratory problems. Add to that the recent inundation of smoke emanating from wildfires in Canada, etc.. Is it any wonder that residents are now experiencing a variety of breathing and “sinus” problems?
Unfortunately, there is completely muted response from City officials and even the County Health Department who apparently desire to sweep the problem under the rug.
For decades, Evansville had something called the Evansville Environmental Protection Agency, set up under an ordinance, that was charged with protecting citizens from air pollution. Now, that Agency is completely defunct. Its board has not met in months and it is in complete failure in meeting its legal requirements.
The Health Department’s so-called “ozone officer” position has been vacant for months and there is no interest in filling the position.
Is it any wonder that this region sports so many hospitals and specialty health care like cancer centers when the collective region acts as if resident health is not an issue that needs to be addressed. Meanwhile, our economic development establishment enthusiastically approves of more and more big toxic polluters when we already have millions of pounds of toxic chemicals routinely released from existing industries 24/7/365.
So, when you go out and buy your kids some smoke bombs or even mortar rounds to display around July 4, you might want to consider poor grandma who already has a hard time breathing. Think before you light up your own neighborhood for a few seconds of thrill as your pets run for shelter.
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