BY PEPPER FISHER
Sequim – This City of Sequim banned the sale of fireworks within city limits Monday night, but the new ordinance won’t go into effect until this time next year.
In 2016, a new ordinance to prohibit the discharge of all fireworks within Sequim city limits was adopted, and became effective in December of 2017.
Since then, City staff came to the conclusion that allowing the sale of fireworks while prohibiting the discharge of fireworks is confusing to residents, and leads some people to believe that setting off fireworks is allowed.
Police Chief Mike Hill reported that his office received, strangely, exactly 26 complaints about fireworks in each of the last three Fourth of Julys.
Randall Curley, area manager of TNT Fireworks, thinks that is a very small number relative to the entire population of the city, and said so during the public comment period.
“Would you ban the Sequim Lavender Festival if 3.15% of the population called in complaints about the beer garden? How people were possibly or actually leaving the festival inebriated and it is a risk to the people of Sequim? I ask that because that is what is happening right now with fireworks. So, my question is; should you ban the festival or fireworks if only 3.15% of the population complained? Or should you work with the organizers to make sure that more signage and education was available for those who participate in the festival or bought fireworks?”
One of the speakers in favor of banning the sale of fireworks was Pamela Griffith Pond.
“Can you imagine a law allowing the sale of alcohol to minors, but prohibiting them from drinking it? Selling something to people with the understanding that they can’t use it is a tacit invitation to them to break the law. Sequim has taken the first step towards being a safe community by banning the use of fireworks. Now, it’s time to ban selling fireworks as well, to make our community safe and to help ensure that our our laws are respected.”
Council voted in favor of banning the sale of fireworks in Sequim, but you may see fireworks stands again next summer as the new ordinance will not go into effect until the fall of next year.