Police issued 10 administrative citations and six misdemeanor
criminal citations on July 4, similar to the nearly 20 citations
issued last year, Gilroy Fire Marshal Jackie Bretschneider
said.
Police issued 10 administrative citations and six misdemeanor criminal citations on July 4, similar to the nearly 20 citations issued last year, Gilroy Fire Marshal Jackie Bretschneider said.
Administrative citations, which are offered for a a first offense or for minor incidents, are $250, while misdemeanor citations can include penalties of up to $1,000.
Police received 97 calls for service related to fireworks between July 2 and July 4, according to Sgt. Wes Stanford of the Gilroy Police Department. That compares to about 200 calls of complaints of illegal fireworks the night of Independence Day last year, Bretschneider said.
Still, firefighters stayed busy this year after what appeared to be a stray bottle rocket burned part of the roof of a home at 100 London Place. It was unclear whether police were still investigating that blaze this week, as they did not return calls seeking comment during the past week.
However, Bretschneider said it can be difficult in the dark to determine where a device like a bottle rocket originated.
“That’s what’s so difficult about illegal fireworks – is that people set them up, light them and run away,” she said.
The city placed nine extra police officers on patrol over the weekend as well as extra fire engine companies to help with enforcement.
