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Fireworks; What's Illegal in Georgia Isn't Illegal in Alabama

Julie Bercik

Story Created: Jul 3, 2009 at 10:59 AM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 3, 2009 at 10:59 AM CDT

Americans will celebrate our nation's 233rd birthday with parades, cookouts and fireworks of course.
While these sparkling displays are fun to watch, they're responsible for 7,000 injuries last year.
NBC 38's Julie Bercik has some tips on how you can avoid becoming part of that number.
The evening sky morphs into a crayon box Saturday night. Through out the day millions will launch cherry bombs,
and other sparkling displays, it’s how Americans celebrate Fourth of July, but too often the party ends in tragedy.
“Fireworks are one of the major causes of injury and death in children and young people,” said Dr. Koppanyi, Health District Coordinator, West Central Georgia Region Four.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports seven fireworks-related deaths in 2008. CPSC along with other agencies is asking people to be in the know. Recently, Georgia Fire Safety Commissioner, John Oxendine, came to Columbus, demonstrating how dangerous explosives can be.
"What we're really trying to promote is using the Georgia fireworks that are safer, they're a different class of fireworks,” said Oxendine.
The commissioner also in town to remind Georgians that certain fireworks like cherry bombs are still illegal, while sparklers and non-explosives are legal.
'If it blows up or if it elevates itself up in the air, then that's going to be an illegal firework,” said Oxendine. “So things that shoot hundreds of feet in the air or explode are illegal.”
But what's illegal in Georgia isn't illegal in Alabama. Oxendine is asking Georgians to not cross the river to buy fireworks.
“The little bit of extra bang you may get from some of the illegal fireworks in Alabama is not worth having a child severely burned or having them lose function of part of on of their hands,” he said.
That's why children should be kept away from all displays. Sparklers seem innocent, but burn at up to 2,000 degrees
The sale and use of firecrackers, bottle rockets and cherry bombs is illegal in Georgia.
It's punishable by one year in jail or a fine of one thousand dollars.