CLOVIS (KMJ) — Homeowners in Clovis who are caught allowing their property to be used to set off illegal fireworks – are now going to be fined for it.
The decision was made at a Clovis City Council meeting Monday night.
The motion by Council Member Bob Whalen, and seconded by Council Member Jose Flores, was approved by four votes to zero, with Council Member Harry Armstrong absent. Giving the measure the green-light means homeowners can now be fined if illegal fireworks are being set off on their land.
The change in the rules has come after law enforcement had difficulty identifying who actually owned the illegal fireworks when they were being set off. Additionally, instead of simply taking the contraband away Clovis Fire are finding that monetary discouragements have a wider affect.
“So that we spend a little less time confiscating illegal fireworks which may impact maybe a dozen people to where now we can impact more people to get that message across”, says Chief Michael Despain.
He adds that a house fire was actually started last Independence Day, by illegal fireworks being set off nearby.
“The homeowner was doing everything right. I don’t even know that they did fireworks at all but yet it was someone down the street that was shooting off illegal fireworks that did some significant damage to an innocent party’s house”.
Both Clovis Police and Fire Departments will now be engaging in what the council describes as “significant public outreach”, to make sure the dangers of illegal fireworks are known.
