Crime can pay this weekend in Montgomery County. Residents in possession of fireworks, which are illegal in Montgomery County, can trade in their contraband for free passes to Six Flags amusement parks.
Fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said the county recovers thousands of fireworks every year through its “amnesty program,” in which residents can turn in fireworks without fear of being arrested or fined at firehouses in Glenmont and Gaithersburg on Saturday, Sunday and July 7.
“We don’t believe people are intentionally violating the law,” Piringer said. “We think they’re just passing fireworks stands in D.C. and Virginia on their way home from work and thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to use these in the backyard this weekend,’ not realizing they’re illegal here.”
It is illegal to possess, store, sell and use fireworks in Montgomery County,unless an individual is a licensed pyrotechnic professional with a permit. Penalties for violations of the law include fines up to $1,000 or six months in jail. Piringer said the free passes to Six Flags give residents a way to recoup some of the expenses incurred from purchasing the fireworks.
