
Grand Rapids Needs To Implement New Fireworks Rules
Since I was a little kid, I loved fireworks.

The bright colors and thunderous bangs were so exciting and something that made me look forward to the 4th of July every year.
I remember in high school my dad taking my brother and me to go get fireworks and how excited we were for the sun to go down and to start shooting them off.
We lived out in the country on several acres of land, which was perfect for setting off fireworks.
Now that I'm older and my wife and I live in Grand Rapids, I have a different feeling about fireworks.
Grand Rapids Needs To Change Its Fireworks Rules
I love fireworks but would like to see the city of Grand Rapids and Michigan as well make some changes to its current fireworks rules.
Currently, Michigan state law allows fireworks use from June 29 to July 4 between 11 a.m. and 11:45 p.m. each day. This extends to July 5 if it falls on a Friday or Saturday.
I would like to see the following changes:
- Fireworks only allowed on July 3rd, July 4th, and July 5th.
- Fireworks can be set off between 11:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
- No fireworks that leave the ground (such as bottle rockets, roman candles) can be shot off in city limits.
I would also like to add a law about firework debris having to be cleaned up within 48 hours, or you get a $1,000 fine for each day they remain in the yard or nearby street.
This year, my idiotic neighbors lit off fireworks way past midnight and ended up causing traffic to stop when they set up some giant fireworks in the middle of the city street.
I know that's against the law, but I don't expect the Grand Rapids Police Department or Kent County Sheriff's Office to be spending the entire night looking for idiots breaking firework laws.
It's bad enough that their firework debris ended up in multiple neighbors' yards, but some of the mortars they set off landed on top of my house and cars in our driveway.
You can add to the list of reasons the brave men and women that served our country and have PTSD.
And most pet owners will also tell you that it's traumatic for their pets dealing with the loud booms.
I had so much fun downtown on Saturday night watching the fireworks with my wife and brother-in-law and think it would be better for everyone if we leave the fireworks show to the professionals.
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