
Fourth of July is next week and many people are getting ready to celebrate the holiday with their friends and family throughout New Jersey. It’s no secret that many people in New Jersey and throughout the tri-state area travel to the neighboring state of Pennsylvania to purchase fireworks and bring them back home. While it is legal to purchase fireworks in Pennsylvania as long as the buyer is of-age, it is not legal to bring them back to New Jersey and use them without a valid permit that has been approved by the police and fire chief of the municipality where they will be used.
New Jersey has made a few changes to fireworks laws in recent years. Regardless, the fireworks used in big displays that draw major crowds are still illegal for private use without a permit. The changes to the laws only allowed handheld and ground-based sparklers, snappers, trick noisemakers, smoke devices, and party poppers to be purchased, possessed, and used by individuals that are 16 years or older.
Those who fail to abide by New Jersey’s fireworks laws can actually face criminal charges. Possessing with the intent to sell or actually selling illegal fireworks can be charged with a crime in the fourth degree. In addition, those who possess or use illegal fireworks without a valid permit can be charged with a petty disorderly persons offense.
If you have been charged with a crime in New Jersey, it is essential to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Contact the Law Office of Michael A. Policastro today to schedule a consultation so we can discuss your situation.