Mayor Adrian Fenty’s bid to ban fireworks in the District is likely to be extinguished today by the D.C. Council.
Ward 1 D.C. Councilman Jim Graham was relentlessly ribbed Monday by his colleagues as he promoted the emergency bill to bar the sale or use of fireworks, a measure that, if passed, would take effect immediately. Graham is introducing the measure on behalf of the mayor.
“Anti-fun bill,” Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans said repeatedly during the council’s pre-legislative-meeting media briefing.
“I see most people voting against the emergency,” Evans later said.
The prohibition proposal, Graham said, was spurred by innumerable complaints from residents about deafening Independence Day revelry; by the poor enforcement of existing laws by the Police Department; and by the concern that firecrackers are often mistaken for gunshots.
“It’s time to give the police and firefighters clear instructions,” Graham said. “It’s time to protect everybody.”
The proposed legislation would ban the use and sale of all consumer fireworks in D.C., including sparklers, except professionally staged pyrotechnics. Proponents argue an all-out ban will prevent injuries and property damage.
The measure is strongly backed by Fire Chief Dennis Rubin. Police and fire received 4,000 calls in 12 hours last July 4 “due to improper use of fireworks in the District,” according to Fenty’s office.
Evans said the bill has its share of unintended consequences, notably that it would “outlaw the Chinese New Year celebration.”
“This is a piece of legislation with collateral effects, and we don’t know what they are,” he said.
Graham said he would be willing to pull the emergency and reintroduce it as permanent
legislation, as long as he gets a guarantee that the measure will have a hearing and get a fair shake.
