Ypsilanti bans consumer fireworks except on national holidays
The city of Ypsilanti has banned consumer fireworks after receiving numerous complaints from residents about excessive noise. However, fireworks will be allowed on national holidays, the day before a national holiday and the day after a national holiday.
The City of Ypsilanti will consider an ordinance banning fireworks except on national holidays.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com file photo
The Ypsilanti City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to ban fireworks in its first reading of the ordinance.
In 2011, the state passed the Michigan Fireworks Safety Act, abolishing the previous statewide prohibition against consumer fireworks.
Section seven of the state law allows municipalities to regulate the use of fireworks, but only for days that aren't national holidays or the day before and after one.
The law already has certain requirements and prohibitions relating to the use of consumer fireworks, including requiring permission from property owners, prohibiting sales to minors, and prohibiting their use under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
City Attorney John Barr said Ypsilanti Township has a similar ordinance in place.
Council Member Brian Robb voted against the ordinance revision, asking who would be able to enforce the ban. Robb said that's what the current noise ordinance is for.
Council Member Susan Moeller said dozens of her neighbors complained during the summer about fireworks and neighbors were upset about them set off at all times of the day. Moeller said she's lived in the city for about nine years and this past summer was the worst in terms of noise being made.
"There were some fireworks on Christmas Day at 10 p.m. at night," said Council Member Ricky Jefferson. "During the Fourth of July month they were blasting until 3 a.m. in the morning. When it comes to disturbing the peace something has to be regulated."
City Manager Ralph Lange said the ordinance revision may be something difficult to enforce, given the current resources of the police department.
"We are going to try to build the departments," Lange said. "We are going to try to cost effectively rebuild the department."
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
Ypsi.Support
Sat, Feb 23, 2013 : 4:40 p.m.
I personally love the fireworks 24.7. I live in college town anyway, noise is a part of life. At least the fireworks are a moral booster. I hope people shoot them off anyway. seriously. Just to annoy the people who want to trammple on fun. Boo on you.
ypsi 1
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 4:54 p.m.
Robb is right. They don't enforce all the ordinances they have now. Why add another to the list of unenforced and ignored ordinances?
Megan Turf
Thu, Feb 21, 2013 : 1:27 p.m.
Let me get this straight - "City Manager Ralph Lange said the ordinance revision may be something difficult to enforce, given the current resources of the police department." So it's not feasible to enforce this new noise ordinance (which would fall under their normal list of duties), but it IS feasible to make these same stretched thin cops fight fires? Yeah, cause which is going to take them off the cop beat for more time?? Hmmm.....
Linda Peck
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 8:16 p.m.
Ann Arbor needs to get a grip on our noise situation, too. It is way out of hand.
An Arborigine
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 4:26 p.m.
So glad the government steps in to protect us from ourselves, now on to real problems, eh?
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 6:40 p.m.
Bah. Ypsi is running just fine, thank you. Nothing better to work on than this.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 4:21 p.m.
Ypsi residents, please write back and tell us if anything changed.
Homeland Conspiracy
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 3:19 p.m.
Now if they could ban gun fire the whole year round
Ross
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 2:39 p.m.
Great news! Some degenerates in the Depot Town area like to launch huge mortars at 3am on random weekday mornings. It persisted all through July, August and September in 2012. Being startled awake by huge explosions in the middle of the night, repeatedly, sucks.
Homeland Conspiracy
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 11:15 p.m.
degenerates are people too
Katrease Stafford
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 2:07 p.m.
Here's a link to a previous story we wrote about Ypsilanti Township limiting the use of consumer fireworks: http://www.annarbor.com/news/ypsilanti/ypsilanti-township-board-of-trustees-approves-second-reading-of-fireworks-ban/
Ignatz
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 2 p.m.
OK, Ypsilanti Township. Your turn!
Ignatz
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 3:02 p.m.
Katrease, Thanks for the info. You'd never know it by listening, though. I guess I'll be making some calls this summer.
Katrease Stafford
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 2:02 p.m.
Ypsilanti City Attorney John Barr said Ypsilanti Township already has a similar ordinance in place.
West Park
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.
ANN ARBOR NEEDS THIS, TOO ! They were blasting away for the whole month of July around here last year. PLEASE ! thank you.
zigziggityzoo
Wed, Feb 20, 2013 : 6:21 p.m.
I like fireworks! July, of all months, should get a pass.