Police intend to intensify patrols to enforce the law against people who use fireworks indiscriminately.
The warning from ACP Deodat Dulalchan comes following annual complaints during New Year celebrations where fireworks are set off in built-up areas, affecting the elderly, children and animals.
Dulalchan said according to the law, citizens should not set off any fireworks within 60 feet of a road in a town.
“We were asked to intensify patrols but nobody wants to come out and say and the most important thing. It is against the law to burst fireworks within 60 feet of the road. It is against the law and anyone light fireworks within the 60 feet near a road in a town...that is against the law,” he said.
Dulalchan said often when the police respond no one wants to identify the offenders.
“What is most important is to educate the public to let them know the hazards of the fireworks,” he said.
He said there are instances where children are seen using fireworks unsupervised without thought to people who have birds, animals or the elderly.
“They must take that into consideration. We want people to be sensitive and more importantly a lot of people don’t know police officers will be out there,” he said.
Dulalchan said the police officers will be working with the Environmental Management Authority’s (EMA) and intensify patrols to minimise the illegal use of fireworks.
“The bigger picture is the risk it poses to birds, animals, the neighbours and the sick,” he said.
Dulalchan said the police did not receive any reports for the year of citizens using of fireworks illegally or scratch bombs but believe those calls will come closer to the New Year.
“We will have strategies in place to mitigate and officers were warned to respond to those calls. Where persons were found where we can find the evidence we will be persecuting people,” he said.
What the law states
Except as prescribed by regulations under this act, any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks within any town is liable to a fine of $1,000.
• In this section and in sections 100 and 101, “town” includes the City of Port-of-Spain, the City of San Fernando, and the Borough of Arima, and every part of the area within two miles of the boundaries of such City or of either of such Boroughs, and also any place or area declared by the Minister, by Order, to be a town or to be deemed to be included within a town for the purposes of the said sections.
• Any person who throws, casts, sets fire to, or lets off any fireworks into, in, or upon any street not being in any town, or into, in, or upon any place being within 60 feet of the centre of any such street, is liable to a fine of $400.