Officials in several northern Michigan counties say complaints about fireworks have skyrocketed this summer.
A new state law allows more, and larger, home fireworks displays.
Leelanau County Prosecutor Joe Hubbell said this week in a meeting of the county commission that, though fireworks are legal, late-night displays still warrant a call to police.
“My thought is, if someone is blowing off fireworks at 2:00 in the morning, there’s usually some other stupidity being associated with that activity,” he said.
The Charlevoix County Sheriff says he’s also heard numerous complaints, though Sheriffs in both Emmet and Mason counties say they have not.
Grand Traverse County’s Deputy Director for 911 Jason Torrey says the county hasn’t kept track of the number of calls. But at one point near the holiday all lines at central dispatch were tied up with noise complaints.
“It (the number of complaints) has increased dramatically, especially over this last holiday period, which obviously is the biggest one for the fireworks activity,” he says.
Torrey says people with noise complaints should call the non-emergency number. He also says state law prohibits local police from enforcing noise ordinances over fireworks displays at any time of night on a national holiday, the day before and the day after.
Charlevoix County Sheriff Don Schneider says he’s frustrated with the new state law, and he thinks there should be restrictions on how late revelries can continue into the night. Our discussion with him is posted in the audio above.
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