Even though there is legislation at the state level aiming to make setting off fireworks in Ohio legal, it is still currently against the law to do so. So, besides sparklers and a small group of novelty fireworks, any type of firecrackers or other loud noisemakers are off limits.
Still, even with the restrictions, it has not been unusual lately to hear these loud explosions in Bedford, sometime late into the evening. For those who have pets who are sensitive to loud noises, or who have their sleep disrupted by the blasts, it can be annoying to say the least.
According to Lieutenant Paul Kellerman of the Bedford City Police Department, residents should not hesitate to call if they are being troubled by undue noise.
“If it is bothering you, you should call,” said Kellermann. “Let the police know and they will respond to the area and monitor the area.”
He said that while fireworks are illegal, and the department will enforce violations, they also do not have a task force to track them all down. So, he said, it is important for residents to let them know if there are any issues in their neighborhoods.
“We would respond just like any call for service,” he said. “If it is truly affecting a neighbor, we would go talk to (those setting them off).”
According the the Dayton Daily News, the fire marshall says setting off fireworks is a first-degree misdemeanor that can carry with it a fine of up to a thousand dollars and up to six months in jail.
Kellerman said those who usually get cited are people who do things like setting off a large display in the middle of the street, or who are repeat offenders. For safety reasons, he said it is also important to know if there are large crowds gathered around or if people lighting them off are intoxicated.
Kellermann said when officers are called, though, it can be challenging to pinpoint exactly where the smaller individual fireworks are being let off. When callers hear the noise, it can actually be occurring 10 houses away or on another block. Some people light them off in their backyards or behind their garages. He said it helps if those who call to report the noise have a good idea from where it is coming.
Kellerman said that this is not just an issue in Bedford, but all over. He said this past weekend in Bedford, he noticed there were a few more calls about fireworks than normal with just a few weeks from the holiday, but that there may have been other circumstances contributing to the numbers, as well.
When it comes to the noise, he said that disturbing the peace laws can be vague, and they usually pertain to circumstances like people doing work with large machinery into the night.
Generally, it comes down to what is reasonable or not from a normal person’s point of view, and each circumstance is different, he said.
At the end of the day, he said, “They are still illegal, and we will still enforce (the law) if we have to. … Ultimately, we want people to be safe.”
