[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Legislature of the County of Ulster 4-21-2015 by L.L. No. 7-2015. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Ulster County Legislature finds that 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 Ulster County Legislature finds that 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 Ulster County Legislature finds that 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 Ulster County Legislature finds that allowing residents and visitors the opportunity to use safe "sparkling devices" will benefit them and local businesses.
E. 
The Ulster 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 Ulster 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 § 405(5)(b) of the New York State Penal Law (Penal Law) and Penal Law § 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 Ulster County, provided that such sale and use are not in violation of §§ 156-h and 377 of the Executive Law or any rules and regulations thereunder.
C. 
"Sparkling devices" are defined as follows: "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:
(1) 
Cylindrical fountain: a 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.
(2) 
Cone fountain: a 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.
(3) 
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.
(4) 
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:
(a) 
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.
(b) 
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.