Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
Attorney General, Public Safety Commissioner Issue Warning To Vendors About State Fireworks Prohibition
July 2, 2009
Blumenthal and Danaher issued notices to B.J. Alan Co., Inc. of Youngstown, Ohio, Dapkus Fireworks, Inc. of Portland, Conn. and American Promotional Events, Inc. of Florence, Ala.
State law imposes tight restrictions on the types of fireworks sold in Connecticut, and Blumenthal and Danaher warned that they will vigorously enforce the law against any vendors selling prohibited fireworks.
Violations of the state's fireworks law -- depending on the amount of fireworks sold, and whether they result in injury -- can carry penalties ranging from fines of up to $100 or $1,000 and prison time of up to 90 days or 10 years.
Blumenthal said his office will continue to work closely with DPS, Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and local fire marshals over the weekend to ensure that fireworks vendors are following public safety and consumer protection laws. He also warned citizens about the perils of such illegal devices, particularly to children.
"The recent arson arrest of a 10-year-old Hartford boy -- leaving 13 people homeless after a minor illegally possessed and misused fireworks -- demonstrates how even legal fireworks can lead to tragedy," Blumenthal said. "Heading into the holiday weekend, we are issuing a strong warning to state fireworks vendors. Our offices will be monitoring the sale of fireworks in Connecticut -- and ready to take swift, strong action against violators.
"Every year, illegal fireworks cause severe disfiguring injuries to children -- turning a great American holiday into an emergency room tragedy. As the recent Hartford house fire demonstrates, violations of our fireworks law can have real consequences -- converting celebration into devastation.
"Connecticut law prohibits most fireworks -- any product that is explosive, combustible, aerial and having a purposeful audible effect. Even those products allowed under state law -- sparklers and fountains -- should be used with great caution and not fall into the hands of children under 16."
Vendors in Connecticut market products as "fireworks," but products traditionally characterized as fireworks are prohibited -- except for a narrow exception for sparklers or fountains. And no fireworks, legal or otherwise, can be sold or possessed by children under 16.
State law defines "sparkler" as "a wire or stick coated with pyrotechnic composition that produces a shower of sparks upon ignition," and a "fountain" is defined as "any cardboard or heavy paper cone or cylindrical tube containing pyrotechnic mixture that upon ignition produces a shower of colored sparks or smoke."
Sparklers and fountains are only permitted if they are non-explosive and non-aerial; do not contain magnesium (magnalium and magnesium-aluminum alloy are permissible); any chlorate or perchlorate salts do not exceed five grams of composition per item; and for multiple fountains mounted on a common base, the total pyrotechnic composition of the product does not exceed 200 grams.
All other products -- including "any combustible or explosive composition, or any substance or combination of substances or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect" -- is barred from sale, use, or possession in this state.
Under the state's consumer protection laws, seasonal fireworks vendors are also required to register with DCP and pay a $100 fee to the state's designated guaranty fund.