Fireworks-Related Calls Soar Over July 4th Week: Oak Park Police

OAK PARK, IL — Despite the Oak Park Police Department reminding residents Wednesday that fireworks are illegal in the village and throughout the state, most fireworks-related complaints called in to the police department took place between Wednesday and Tuesday.

According to a report Patch obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the police department received more than 100 fireworks-related calls between June 22 and July 7.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

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According to the police department, no citations were issued during this time.

What counts as a "firework"?

The Fireworks Regulation Act of Illinois states that "the term 'fireworks' shall not include snake or glow worm pellets; smoke devices; sparklers; trick noisemakers known as "party poppers", "booby traps", "snappers", "trick matches", "cigarette loads" and "auto burglar alarms"; toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns, or other devices in which paper or plastic caps containing twenty-five hundredths grains or less of explosive compound are used, provided they are so constructed that the hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for the explosion; and toy pistol paper or plastic caps which contain less than twenty-five hundredths grains of explosive mixture."

However, the term is defined by (and includes) any "explosive composition or any substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect of a temporary exhibitional nature by explosion, combustion, deflagration or detonation, and shall include blank cartridges, toy cannons in which explosives are used, the type of balloons which require fire underneath to propel the same, firecrackers, torpedoes, sky rockets, Roman candles, bombs or other fireworks of like construction and any fireworks containing any explosive compound; or any tablets or other device containing any explosive substance, or containing combustible substances producing visual effects," the legislation specifies.

Failure to comply or violations

Instances during which someone fails to comply or violates any of the act's provisions will be guilty of a petty offense. However, the act goes on to state that whoever, "after receiving written notice from the Office, or its authorized representative, directing compliance with specified provisions of the Act fails to comply with the provisions of the Act specified in said notice, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.(Source: P.A. 80-147.)"