New Yorkers Flock to Pennsylvania to Purchase Fireworks

Many New Yorkers are knowingly are breaking the law this 4^th of July holiday. According to Sunday's Post-Standard, Pennsylvania law bans the sale of fireworks to its residents, but people from anywhere else can buy thousands of dollars worth of fire works. In Pennsylvania the residents are required to have a permit in order to purchase fireworks. Surprisingly, for out of state consumers, it does not matter if fireworks are illegal in their home state, which is the case of bordering New York. Both New York and New Jersey have laws that are so strick, even sparklers are illegal.

Pennsylvania has 49 firework stores strategically placed along its boarders. These stores advertise in NY papers, sending out mailings to New Yorkers offering discounts and coupons. One store in particular, Mess's Fireworks has customers coming in from New York City, Syracuse, Rochester and New Jersey. His store offers a 10% discount off purchases equaling $50 or more.

The Post-Standard also goes on to report that many customers are not concerned with consciously breaking the law. One customer Aaron Garrow, from Binghamton tells The Post-Standard:

"There's nobody there, I checked on the way down."

Garrow spent $296.38 on fireworks, which included names such as Street Power, Crowning Glory, Cosmic Collision and Turkey Shoot. He also purchased repeater cakes; these fireworks use a single fuse that lights several tubes that shoot flaming balls hundreds of feet into the air.

This year New York State Troopers have made 85 arrests on firework related charges. The law in New York states that a person may be charged with a felony fireworks violation if only if he has already been charged with a fireworks misdemeanor.

In Oneida County (NY), on June 20 three men were charged with having 300 cases of fireworks, which was worth more than $100,000.

If you do plan on using fireworks this 4^th of July, The Post-Standard offers these safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

1. Never allow young children to play with them.

2. Make sure fireworks are LEGAL in your area before buying them.

3. Adults should always supervise fireworks activity, especially sparklers, which burn at temperatures of 2,000 degrees- which is hot enough to melt some metals.

4. Never pick up or try to re-light fireworks that have not fully functioned. Douse with water and throw away.

5. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire.

6. Never shoot fireworks off metal or glass containers.

SOURCES:
Print publication:

Eisenstadt, M. (2007/01/07). Breaking the law doesn't seem to bother New Yorkers. The Post-Standard, p. A1, A6.