logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
    • Marketplace
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
      • Marketplace
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
        • Marketplace
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Opinion Amend fireworks law
    Amend fireworks law
    Letters to Editor
    July 20, 2020

    Amend fireworks law

    It is absurd that our Pennsylvania fireworks law (Act 43 of 2017) is deficient in not setting fireworks-launch distance restrictions from other property owners’ boundaries, or from streets and roads. This law is thus omitting consideration for the value of property owners’ landscaping (trees, shrubs, etc.), for the value of vehicles parked in their driveways and for the hazard this poses to motorists.

    The current law only restricts fireworks within 150 feet of an occupied structure. As a consequence, again this year, another’s fireworks shell casings and debris were strewn all over my car, all over and 100 feet deep into my property and near and next to my house, posing a real fire risk in drought conditions. That’s in addition to littering my property; littering is a chargeable offense in Pennsylvania.

    So what did I learn? Don’t do as I did. Don’t waste your time calling the state police. People often do less than the least they could do; the state police easily, too, prove this finding to be true.

    So what can you do? At least, do the least you can do.

    1. Send photos and videos of fireworks littered onto your property to Pennsylvania state representatives and senators and demand that the current fireworks law be “fixed” to set fireworks-launch distance restrictions based on the ceiling height of the largest shell casing to be launched.

    A 3-inch shell (the largest allowed for consumers) will travel approximately 210 feet. These 3s landed far into my property. See keystonefireworks.com for more info.

    No shell launched should be able to reach another’s property or a street or a road — even if the launcher falls over – period.

    2. If others litter your property with their fireworks debris, pick it up and, while avoiding trespass, return it to their property so they can “enjoy” picking it up as much you did.

    3. Contact a lawyer.

    To all those readers unopposed to launching fireworks in drought conditions, or to littering a neighbor’s property with shell casings and debris, do write a rebuttal. Indeed, do write, so that other readers may learn your names, your anti-social, sociopathic tendencies and your obvious intellectual deficiencies.

    Lastly, this caution to motorists: on July 4 next year, and maybe year after year, maybe don’t have your windows down at or near prominent, high-traffic intersections in Wetmore Township — or wherever you live.

    Tony Stovic, Kane

    Tags:

    debris fireworks highway law legislation pennsylvania reader restriction shell telecommunications

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Latest news for you
    A case for hunting young
    Local News, Local Sports, News, ...
    A case for hunting young
    By STEVE SHERK Jr.  Special to The Era  
    July 12, 2025
    I’ll never forget when a good friend of mine, when I was in my early teens, told me that I should play more sports instead of going hunting. He said t...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-daily-headlines":"Daily Headlines", "newsletters":"Newsletters", "newsletter-sports":"Sports", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Make face-blotting tissues at home
    Lifestyles
    Make face-blotting tissues at home
    July 12, 2025
    Dear Heloise: Facial-blotting tissues are expensive, but it's easy to make them at home. I purchase a package of good-quality white wrapping tissue an...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Man’s addiction may be to blame for wife’s migraines
    Lifestyles
    Man’s addiction may be to blame for wife’s migraines
    July 12, 2025
    DEAR ABBY: I began experiencing migraines occasionally as a teenager, but in my early 20s, they became a regular occurrence. I tried unsuccessfully fo...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    ‘Round the Square: Notes from readers
    Round the Square
    ‘Round the Square: Notes from readers
    July 12, 2025
    NOTES FROM READERS: Every now and again we like to catch up on the notes we’ve received from our readers, whether they’re regarding ’Round the Square ...
    Read More...
    Q&A with DA: Tethering dogs outside during extreme temperatures
    Local News
    Q&A with DA: Tethering dogs outside during extreme temperatures
    By STEPHANIE VETTENBURG-SHAFFER  McKean County District Attorney  
    July 12, 2025
    (Editor’s note: The information in this special series is for educational purposes only and is not intended to address any particular case, nor should...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-daily-headlines":"Daily Headlines", "newsletters":"Newsletters", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Even at 6-foot-6, Penguins defensive prospect Peyton Kettles is still growing
    Local Sports
    Even at 6-foot-6, Penguins defensive prospect Peyton Kettles is still growing
    Seth Rorabaugh The Tribune-Review, Greensburg 
    July 11, 2025
    (TNS) —Given that he shot up from 5-foot-5 in eighth grade to his current height of 6-6 as a freshly drafted defensive prospect for the Pittsburgh Pen...
    Read More...
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA