[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Legislature of the County
of Sullivan as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 5-21-2015 by L.L. No. 2-2015]
A.
The Sullivan County Legislature finds enacted state law Chapter 477
of the Laws of 2014 amended the State Penal Law, the Executive Law,
and the General Business Law with the intent to modernize the statute
dealing with illegal fireworks, provide additional definitions of
what constitutes fireworks and dangerous fireworks and remove certain
novelty devices, which are not recognized as fireworks by the federal
government, out of the definition of fireworks.
B.
The Sullivan County Legislature finds the law, prior to the recently
enacted changes, was not used effectively due to poor definitions
and courts had thrown out indictments due to these poor definitions.
Through the modernization of the statute and clearly defining the
terms "fireworks," "dangerous fireworks" and "novelty devices," the
new law provides law enforcement with an important tool in reducing
the use of illegal fireworks and homemade devices and encourages the
use of safe and legally regulated novelty devices.
C.
The Sullivan County Legislature finds the new law allows sparkling
devices to be sold and used in municipalities that affirmatively enact
a local law authorizing the exclusion "sparkling devices" from the
definitions of "fireworks" and "dangerous fireworks."
D.
The Sullivan County Legislature finds that allowing residents and
visitors the opportunity to use safe "sparkling devices" will benefit
them and local businesses.
E.
The Sullivan County Legislature finds that only those who are 18
years of age or older may purchase sparkling devices and that the
sparkling devices shall only be sold between June 1 and July 5 and
December 26 and January 2 of each calendar year.
F.
The Sullivan County Legislature further finds that all distributors,
manufacturers, and retailers of sparkling devices must be licensed
through the New York State Department of State.
A.
Pursuant to section 405(5)(b) of the New York State Penal Law (Penal
Law) and Penal Law Section 270(3)(b)(v) as enacted by Chapter 477
of the Laws of 2014, "sparkling devices" shall be excluded from the
definition of "fireworks" and "dangerous fireworks" as those terms
are defined by Penal Law § 270(1)(a)(i) and 270(1)(b) respectively.
B.
The sale
and use of "sparkling devices" as defined in Penal Law § 270(1)(a)(vi),
which is incorporated hereunder, shall be lawful in Sullivan County
provided such sale and use are not in violation of § 270
of the Penal Law or any rules and regulations thereunder.
C.
SPARKLING DEVICES
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(a)
(b)
Definitions.
"Sparkling devices" which are ground-based or hand-held devices
that produce a shower of white, gold, or colored sparks as their primary
pyrotechnic effect. Additional effects may include a colored flame,
an audible crackling effect, an audible whistle effect, and smoke.
These devices do not rise into the air, do not fire inserts or projectiles
into the air, and do not explode or produce a report (an audible crackling-type
effect is not considered to be a report). Ground-based or hand-held
devices that produce a cloud of smoke as their sole pyrotechnic effect
are also included in this category. Types of devices in this category
include:
Cylindrical fountain: Cylindrical tube containing not more than
75 grams of pyrotechnic composition that may be contained in a different
shaped exterior such as a square, rectangle, cylinder or other shape
but the interior tubes are cylindrical in shape. Upon ignition, a
shower of colored sparks, and sometimes a whistling effect or smoke,
is produced. This device may be provided with a spike for insertion
into the ground (spike fountain), a wood or plastic base for placing
on the ground (base fountain), or a wood or cardboard handle to be
hand held (handle fountain). When more than one tube is mounted on
a common base, total pyrotechnic composition may not exceed 200 grams,
and when tubes are securely attached to a base and the tubes are separated
from each other on the base by a distance of at least 1/2 inch (12.7
millimeters), a maximum total weight of 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition
shall be allowed.
Cone fountain: cardboard or heavy paper cone containing not
more than 50 grams of pyrotechnic composition. The effect is the same
as that of a cylindrical fountain. When more than one cone is mounted
on a common base, total pyrotechnic composition may not exceed 200
grams, as is outlined in this subsection.
Wooden sparkler/dipped stick: these devices consist of a wood
dowel that has been coated with pyrotechnic composition. Upon ignition
of the tip of the device, a shower of sparks is produced. Sparklers
may contain up to 100 grams of pyrotechnic composition per item.
Novelties which do not require approval from the United States
department of transportation and are not regulated as explosives,
provided that they are manufactured and packaged as described below:
Party popper: small devices with paper or plastic exteriors
that are actuated by means of friction (a string or trigger is typically
pulled to actuate the device). They frequently resemble champagne
bottles or toy pistols in shape. Upon activation, the device expels
flame-resistant paper streamers, confetti, or other novelties and
produces a small report. Devices may contain not more than 16 milligrams
(0.25 grains) of explosive composition, which is limited to potassium
chlorate and red phosphorus. These devices must be packaged in an
inner packaging which contains a maximum of 72 devices.
Snapper: small, paper-wrapped devices containing not more than
one milligram of silver fulminate coated on small bits of sand or
gravel. When dropped, the device explodes, producing a small report.
Snappers must be in inner packages not to exceed 50 devices each,
and the inner packages must contain sawdust or a similar, impact-absorbing
material.
