If you plan to start your own fireworks this Fourth of July, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has a simple message for you.
Fireworks are “not just danger, they are criminals,” Hochman said in a news release, adding that “the use, possession or sale of illegal fireworks” is prohibited.
“If you put out explosives in our neighborhood, hurt residents, hurt our homes, terrorize our community, we’ll come after you with the full weight of the law,” Hochman said. “July 4th, don’t gamble with your freedom.”
To make his point even more, Hochman used the case of 26-year-old Inglewood resident Joshua Araves after departing fireworks at Commerce, celebrating the title of the Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 series.
That second round of fireworks “smashed windows in a nearby apartment building, damaged multiple vehicles, attracting a crowd of young onlookers,” the release said.
“One of the explosives is torn out of the women’s bedroom window, causing a tear in the face,” the release added.
Alvarez pleaded not guilty and is holding a pretrial hearing scheduled for July 9th.
Hochman is far from the only local official who promises to crack down on illegal fireworks this year.
Riverside is deploying drones to track people who illegally set fireworks like the ones that started last year’s Hawarden Fire.
In cities like Fullerton, the cost of catching up with illegal fireworks has grown to an impressive number.
Your first offence can result in a $3,000 fine, while repeated offences will result in a $5,000 fine, followed by $7,000.
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