THE PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE PASSED ACT 43 IN 2017 WHICH IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS PENNSYLVANIA'S FIREWORKS LAW.  THE LAW ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE TO PURCHASE FIREWARKS HERE IN PA THAT PREVIOUSLY COULD NOT BE PURCHASED.  THE LAW HOWEVER, ALSO SET GUIDELINES ON WHERE THE FIREWORKS COULD BE DISPLAYED.  THE FOLLOWING ARE GUIDELINES ON ACT 43:

• THEY CANNOT BE IGNITED OR DISCHARGED ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHOUT EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE PROPERTY OWNER.
• THEY CANNOT BE DISCHARGED FROM OR WITHIN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR BUILDING.
• THEY CANNOT BE DISCHARGED TOWARD A MOTOR VEHICLE OR BUILDING.
• THEY CANNOT BE DISCHARGED WITHIN 150 FEET OF AN OCCUPIED STRUCTURE, WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON IS ACTUALLY PRESENT.
• THEY CANNOT BE DISCHARGED WHILE THE PERSON IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, OR ANOTHER DRUG.

THE BOROUGH OF WYOMISSING HAS RULES ON THE USE OF FIREWORKS IN ITS FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE PROTECTION ORDINANCE.  THE ORDINANCE OUTLINES REQUIREMENTS FOR:

• OBTAINING A PERMIT, GRANTED BY THE FIRE COMMISSIONER, TO DISPLAY FIREWORKS.  BECAUSE OF THE 150 FOOT RULE ESTABLISHED IN ACT 43, THE ENTIRE BOROUGH IS DEEMED TO BE WITHIN 150 FEET OF AN OCCUPIED STRUCTURE, MAKING THE DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS WITHOUT A PERMIT ILLEGAL.
• OBTAINING A BOND OF NOT LESS THAN $50,000.00 BE HELD BY THOSE THAT WISH TO DISPLAY THE FIREWORKS TO COVER THE COST OF ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY BE CAUSED.
• THE DISPOSAL OF ANY UNFIRED FIREWORKS AND ACCOMPANYING TRASH FROM THE DISPLAY.
• THE SEIZURE OF ALL FIREWORKS IN VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE.
• SETS A PENALITY OF NOT LESS THAN $100.00 (PLUS COSTS) FOR A VIOLATION OR IN DEFAULT OF PAYMENT TO NOT LESS THAN 30 DAYS IN JAIL.

THE MEMBERS OF THE WYOMISSING POLICE DEPARTMENT HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAS A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY!!!