How does Northern California law enforcement know who to mail fireworks fines to?

(FOX40.COM) — The Fourth of July holiday has passed, but fines and penalties for illegal fireworks usage in Northern California are just beginning. After some law enforcement agencies announced fines to come through the mail, community members became curious about how officials would know who to send them to.
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Because illegal fireworks often show up at large gatherings, many people may think it’s easy to get away with using them. The logic is that there are too many people to catch, and even if law enforcement sees a person in action, they can’t be sure of the person’s residency to fine them. Although some people think they avoided fines on the Fourth of July, local law enforcement said there were provisions in place to catch those who participated in illegal activity even after the holiday.

In Sacramento, the Social Host Ordinance holds property owners responsible for all activities that occur on their premises, including the use of illegal fireworks. It was adopted in 2022 and allows law enforcement to fine the owners $1,000 and up for using illegal fireworks at their homes and $10,000 and up for violations at schools and parks within the American River Parkway.

Some tools used in the Sacramento area include drones and unmarked law enforcement vehicles.

“It’s a very quiet system,” Sacramento Fire Department Captain Justin Sylvia told FOX40.com. “(We) roll up, get video of you, drop a pin on Google maps of what house was doing it, screenshot that, and move onto the next.”  

Sylvia said that while people were lighting up illegal fireworks, teams of firefighters and other law enforcement officers were parked nearby and recording the activity. Crews made sure to capture clear video and accurate home addresses for the illegal activity. Additionally, he said that violators can expect citations in the mail within the next 30 days – and even beyond that.

SFD’s operation is backed by the City of Sacramento, some local non-profit organizations, and TNT Fireworks, which partnered to help enforce fireworks regulations. On July 3, Sacramento City Councilmember Lisa Kaplan hosted a press conference to announce a “new level of enforcement” aimed at cracking down on illegal fireworks. The enforcement included a new drone program.

“Dangerous illegal fireworks have been a nuisance in our City for years, damaging city property and critical infrastructure,” Kaplan said in a press release. “Last Fourth of July weekend, the Sacramento Fire Department responded to 430 emergency calls, a 56% increase compared to 2023.”

Drones targeting illegal fireworks in Sacramento were used from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. from July 4 to July 5. Surveillance footage from the drones are still under review.

In Woodland, drones were also a part of their fireworks enforcement programs. Similar to Sacramento, a host ordinance allows for law enforcement to cite property owners for anything that happens on their premises.

According to Woodland Police Department Sergeant Ryan Bowler, the use of drones has been a game changer. Bowler oversees the city’s drone program, which is utilized all year long. However, during the Fourth of July holiday, it’s especially useful.

“With so many inundated calls, they are beyond the staffing levels that we have on particular nights,” Bowler told FOX40.com. “Drones allow us to follow up on those calls and either send a citation through the mail or deliver them in person.”

When calls came in for illegal fireworks on the Fourth, instead of immediately using a patrol vehicle, WPD responded to the area with drones. According to Bowler, drones can locate a general area, help the police department to “pretty quickly” catch someone using illegal fireworks, and see where they’re coming from. That allows the department to investigate and respond accordingly.

Additionally, Bowler said the department utilizes the Nail Em App, which allows community members to report illegal fireworks, upload photos and videos, and send them directly to law enforcement.

Bowler said people who think they’re in the clear from being cited for illegal fireworks may still receive fines in the near future.

“You’re using them at your own risk with the potential of receiving a citation for $1000 up to tens of thousands of dollars,” Bowler said. “All of that for less than 10 seconds of excitement. It’s not worth it.”