Virginia law allows non-aerial fireworks, termed "sane and safe," such as sparklers, for private individual usage. However, the state strictly prohibits the use of firecrackers and "other fireworks which explode, travel laterally, rise into the air, or fire projectiles into the air."
"If it flies through the air, it is illegal," said Blacksburg Police Sgt. Nathan O'Dell.
State law also prohibits selling, possessing, or transporting such fireworks.
Within the town code, the use of fireworks is considered a noise violation penalty as well.
However, O'Dell said, "in the festive spirit of the fourth of July, stringent enforcement is not done."
The Blacksburg Police receive numerous calls, mostly noise complaints, but do not write up many citations, except for gross violations.
Since January 1 of this year, there have been 41 calls with fireworks or noise violations, of which only four summons were issued.
According to Lt. Brian Wright, the Montgomery County Sheriff's office responded to six complaints of fireworks violations, mostly noise complaints from neighbors. No charges were filed.
The American Pyrotechnics Association's Web site states that a large majority of firework-related injuries are from "the misuse of legal consumer items or the use of illegal explosives."
Illegal explosives include M-80s, M-100s, blockbusters and quaterpounders. They have been federally banned since 1966. Many times, these are unmarked and do not have a manufacturer's label on them.
Overtime, the number of injuries has decreased, because of better education about the dangers of fireworks. The National Council on Fireworks Safety, which tracks injuries related to fireworks, recorded an all-time low in 2006.
3.4 injuries occurred per 100,00 pounds of consumer fireworks sold, compared to 8.0 injuries per 100,000 pounds sold in 1997.
There are numerous celebrations taking place in the Blacksburg area.
Smithfield Plantation will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will have a variety of historical demonstrations and children activities. Food vendors will also be there, such as Due South BBQ and a Sno-cone mobile. Tours of the Smithfield home will be available through the day at a reduced rate of $4.
Blacksburg town celebrations will begin at 2 p.m. with parade through downtown followed by a showing of "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets at the Lyric."
Afterwards at 6 p.m., there will be a concert at the Municipal Park, across from Blacksburg High, with the Blacksburg Community Band, and at 8:15 p.m. featuring the Landsharks, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band. The fireworks display will start at 9:30 p.m.
Jack Leahy, Community Center Supervisor with Blacksburg Parks and Recreation said there are usually 10,000 people in attendance for the town's Independence Day celebrations.
"There are about four to five thousand people in the park," said Leahy, "with oodles of people parked all around to watch the fireworks."
In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held indoors at Blacksburg High School. The fireworks display will be held the next evening.
In Radford, a 5K run will be held at 8 a.m., with festivities throughout the day. There will be a concert at 7 p.m., featuring country music singer Jimmy Fortune. Fireworks will start at 9:30 p.m.
law, fireworks, july, independence day
