Hawaii state lawmakers advance illegal fireworks measures

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With the horrific and disturbing aftermath of this year’s New Year’s explosion in Salt Lake still fresh on their minds, state lawmakers in both the House and Senate approved four key measures in the effort to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.

“This is really is an important session, that incident really heightened what the legislature needed to do,” said state Sen. Brandon Elefante, who chairs the senate Public Safety Committee. He introduced Senate Bill 222, which provides stiffer penalties for illegal fireworks offenders. It also provides additional funding for the Illegal Fireworks Task Force.

“I am very grateful and thankful to the chairs of the Finance committee and Ways and Means for appropriating $7.65 million dollars to the Department of Law Enforcement for eight positions for enforcement of illegal fireworks,” he said.

“Now that we have increased penalties with ‘B’ felonies, we’re hoping that those who are caught through the Fireworks Task Force — when they are staring down a ’B’ felony and a ten thousand dollar fine, that will be more of a hindrance,” said state Law Enforcement Director Mike Lambert.

In the House, three bills made it through final readings. One of them was House Bill 1483.

“I think the most important part of this bill is that the legislature is finally taking a proactive stance towards illegal fireworks,” said state Rep, Scot Matayoshi, chair of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

“Instead of just hoping that we catch them at the ports or through the mail, we’re actually going after these people,” Matayoshi said.

He added that the bill changes the definition of aerial fireworks to make it easier to prosecute. It will also allow law enforcement to cite fireworks offenders, similar to handing out traffic tickets

“We’re adding enhanced penalties to people who fire off fireworks illegally and hurt people or even kill people. So we’re really going after people instead of taking a more passive stance.”

HB 806 provides funds to conduct fireworks sting operations and establish an explosive and firearms laboratory. And finally HB 550 allows the use of recordings made by drones to establish probable cause for arrests.

“I am really proud of the legislature this year for taking that proactive stance and really making movement on this issue,” Matayoshi said.

“We really needed to do something and I think we all collaborated and worked together,” said Elefante. “I want to thank my colleagues in the senate and the house and more specifically working the AGs office and law enforcement and stakeholders to really craft good legislation so it gives these necessary tools to combat illegal fireworks.”

With this year’s legislature now complete, the four measures now head to the Governor’s office for his consideration and signature.

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