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Code Enforcement Officials Giving Out Warnings & Citations for Firework Trash
Code Enforcement Officials Giving Out Warnings & Citations for Firework Trash 7/5/12
CBS 7 News
July 5, 2012
tguinn@cbs7.com
If you drive around the counties you can see the fun left behind from last night's festivities on the road. But if you don't clean it up, you'll be left with more than just a mess.
Popped fireworks, it's what you'll find on the side of a lot of county roads.
The problem is if code enforcement officials catch this trash on your property, you could see a fine for littering.
"After firework displays, a lot of citizens leave dispensed fireworks which can accumulate large amounts of trash,” Gino Solla, Ector County Health Department director said.
And Solla says that after last night's wind, firework trash has made a huge mess.
"You’d be surprised how much trash is left behind.”
He says since there was no burn ban this year, they're expecting to find a lot of left behind fireworks.
"Thousands of people popping fireworks…that’s a lot of trash," he said. “People just need to take a trash bag with them or some kind of receptacle and clean up after themselves.”
Now code enforcement officials are on patrol looking for violators.
"If they catch them, they’re going to write them a warning or even a citation for littering," Solla said. “Be responsible. Clean after yourselves and we’ll avoid a lot of problems.”
Solla says that if they find popped fireworks on your property, you could see a fine up to $500.
Other counties tell CBS 7 that they are enforcing this fireworks law as well.
Many of you have been sounding off on the issue of the fireworks trash on our CBS 7 Facebook page.
Shawn posted, "The truck route in crane is saturated with spent fireworks."
Daisy commented, "This morning, driving out of city limits, I saw trash all over private company lots!"
And Tay writes, "Glad we were good citizens and picked up after ourselves. Good way to teach the kids not to litter. Pick up after your done... Plain and simple."