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Lodi Strengthening Illegal Fireworks Rules

LODI (CBS13) — Lodi is cracking down on people who illegally light up the sky with fireworks.

While the city hosts its own fireworks display on Lodi Lake every Fourth of July, its police force spends that holiday tracking down illegal fireworks being set off throughout the rest of the city.

Lodi Fire marshal Gene Stoddart says illegal fireworks are a problem statewide, and in Lodi, people are buying them online and setting them off any time of the year.

The fire and safety concerns surrounding the illegal fireworks has Lodi Police sending officers out to track down the people lighting them off.

"They start fires, they disrupt and disturb the peace. There are a number of reasons on why they're illegal," said Lt. Sierra Brucia.

Stoddart says officers can't confiscate illegal fireworks because they don't have the storage space or the ability to get rid of them. Instead, Lodi Police will treat illegal firework lighting as a civil offense and charge the homeowner where they were set off with a $1,000 fine.

Lodi Police hope the heavy fine will buy other homeowners some peace and quiet throughout the year.

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