GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A new law signed by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley could mean restrictions for some and possibly a peaceful night sleep for others. The law establishes new time limits for setting off fireworks.
Each municipality can now adopt an ordinance that would prohibit fireworks usage between midnight and 8:00 a.m. or beteween 1:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on New Years Eve.
Last year, new Michigan law allowed people to buy and sell fireworks that leave the ground. But several West Michigan municipalities put in restrictions that only allowed people to set them off the day before, the day of, and the day after a national holiday.
Now, cities can choose to tighten those restrictions even further by limiting the time of day when the fireworks can be ignited.
According to the Grand Rapids Police Department, officers responded to 605 fireworks complaints in 2012 between January 1 and July 31. During the same time period in 2011, Grand Rapids police officers responded to 201 complaints.
In an effort to cut down on the number of complaints across the state, the legislature passed the time limit law in affect on Wednesday, June 19.
