As ghouls, goblins and other creatures prepare to roam the Royal City Friday night, police officers will be keeping a close eye on Halloween celebrations taking advantage of the city’s one-night-only fireworks policy.
In New Westminster, the sale of fireworks has been banned for 10 years following city council’s outcry that fireworks were causing “havoc” in neighbourhoods. At the height of the issue in 2003, the police department recorded 128 fireworks-related complaints. Today, the number of complaints has dropped dramatically, according to the New Westminster Police Department.
To date this year, there have been 30 fireworks-related complaints, and only 16 of those were reported in September and October, Sgt. Diana McDaniel told The Record.
While the ban prohibits the sale of fireworks in the city, it doesn’t prohibit residents from setting off fireworks – on Halloween only.
From 4 p.m. on Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 at 12 a.m., residents in the Royal City are allowed to set off low-hazard fireworks, including pin-wheels, golden rain, lawn lights, showers and fountains, and volcanoes, according to the city’s fire protection bylaw. Roman candles and firecrackers are banned in New West.
Provincially, the Fireworks Act mandates the use and sale of fireworks, but it is within each city’s jurisdiction to determine if and how the act is applied.
So, while the sale of fireworks is banned in New West, residents can find a plethora of stores selling fireworks just a hop, skip and a jump across the border in Burnaby.
If Royal City residents want to partake in a pyrotechnic display on Halloween, the city requires that all fireworks discharged are done so by an adult 18 years or older and on private property with the owner’s consent.
Residents can set off fireworks on days other than Halloween (for celebration purposes) as long as they apply for a $100 permit through the New Westminster Fire Department.
For more information on the city’s fireworks regulations click here.
