Michigan Fireworks Ban Lifted this year

**Oblong** · 07-05-2012, 12:14 AM

This was the first year in a long time that Michigan allowed the use of the larger fireworks. What did you all think of it? I think it was a huge failure and hope the state steps in and bans them again. I am still hearing them. If the state won't then I'll be pushing my city to enact a ban.

**Deleterious** · 07-05-2012, 12:22 AM

I didn't notice a difference. But there are always 3-4 houses on the lake that spend big bucks on fireworks. I haven't gone to a show since I moved here, its that good.

**DTroppens** · 07-05-2012, 12:30 AM

Noticed absolutely no difference. We have larger ones going off every year anyway. And they are completely done right now, and have been since midnight. We have our doors and windows open, so people are probably more ticked off that I'm listening to "Blinded me with Science" than any fireworks.

Honestly, I didn't see a difference. Well, I noticed they started last weekend and will probably go until next weekend. But that happens when the holiday is more in the middle of the week.

I can live with some fireworks for a few hours one or two weeks a year. But then again, that's easy for me to say. I'm up until 4 a.m. anyway. I'm sure that's not the case for 90% of the people here. So I guess I understand that viewpoint as well.

**hueytaxi** · 07-05-2012, 12:32 AM

Big fireworks for personal use have been banned in Florida since I was a child. In the last few years, tents go up around cities selling the big boomers and all you have to do is sign a document that you will not use them for recreational purposes, but to repel wildlife.

**slim pickens** · 07-05-2012, 12:39 AM

seemed like any other year to me. just easier to get now is all. I can drive down to the corner, instead of having to go to almost the border.

**Oblong** · 07-05-2012, 12:48 AM

I still hear them....

hopefully they lose their fingers or hands.... trash.

**DTroppens** · 07-05-2012, 02:32 AM

12:48 a.m. - that's a bit late.

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by Oblong

I still hear them....

hopefully they lose their fingers or hands.... trash.

You are now my all-time favorite poster and human being in general!
I can understand using fireworks during the holiday but not every damn night.
I have started sleeping with ear plugs.
It's now against the law in Warren but it won't be enforced.
Don't any of them work for a living?
I didn't know you could buy fireworks with WIC.

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by DTroppens

12:48 a.m. - that's a bit late.

Just last week I was woken by a mortar at 1:30 in the morning.
I literally had fantasies of hearing a death curdling scream as a mortar prematurely went off in their hands.
Don't **** with my sleep.

**Oblong** · 07-05-2012, 08:33 AM

yeah it's been going on here since Sunday night. I didn't know that the law states you can only set those off on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

I guess I don't care if they do them before 11. After that, then they are being inconsiderate slobs who deserve any misfortune that comes their way from dealing with explosives.

**RedRamage** · 07-05-2012, 08:45 AM

I live near a park that is regularly used by fireworks people. This year there were more, but not significantly more. I guess I've learned to live with it around the 4th. Doesn't bother me excessively unless it's happening very early in the morning (12:30ish or past that). I've chased people out of the park before when it's been really late. That's of course easier to do when they were illegal because the people usually thought I was a cop coming for them and just took off.

This year I haven't had to chase anyone out of the park.

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 09:16 AM

It's part of a larger societal problem.
People just don't have any consideration for others. From the idiots that wait until they get up to the bank drive-thru before filling out their slips, to the people that drive through neighborhoods at night with their radios at full volume.
On my way to work there is construction going on and the lanes are down to one each way. There is a "No Left Turn" sign at the major roads so traffic doesn't back up. Never fails that people ignore it.
Please, don't inconvenience yourself, the fifteen cars behind you don't mind.

**monkeynuts** · 07-05-2012, 09:27 AM

It felt and sounded like WWIII had broken out in Royal Oak between 9-11 last night. Personally, I found it amusing and wasn't upset at all. If one were to randomly wake me up at three then, yes, that'd bug me I suppose.

Then again the huge storms that knocked out my power at 5 this morning helped out with the whole middle of the night rude awakening thing...

**Oblong** · 07-05-2012, 09:41 AM

I didn't have a problem with them last night before 11. My problems were those setting them off earlier in the week or those that were going past 11.

It could be that I just had a few more idiot neighbors this year than in the past. The housing meltdown introducted a lot more renters.

At 11:30 last night two groups of people in the park had some that ran off popping noises for a good 5 minutes straight.

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Oblong

I didn't have a problem with them last night before 11. My problems were those setting them off earlier in the week or those that were going past 11.

It could be that I just had a few more idiot neighbors this year than in the past. The housing meltdown introducted a lot more renters.

At 11:30 last night two groups of people in the park had some that ran off popping noises for a good 5 minutes straight.

Bingo!

**John_Brian_K** · 07-05-2012, 11:07 AM

It is the 4th of July. Let them blow off some steam. I went to bed early last night because I had to work in the morning. We usually have a big display every year...one time and are usually done blowing them off by 11:00pm or so.

I guess it is a matter or how they are blown off, at what times etc. But last night as I was sleeping I heard many booms which sounded like they were coming from next door. I was a bit perterbed, but realized I had done the same thing before so I just went back to sleep. It was hard because they kept blowing them off, but I eventually got to sleep.

I hear alot of "it is EVERY day!', but you have multiple neighbors not all who may have had the opportunity to do them on the same day. Maybe it is the same people doing them on multiple days, but I have a feeling it is a bunch of random people at different times.

People are enjoying them and having fun. Why bag on that? What is it REALLY hurting?

**John_Brian_K** · 07-05-2012, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Oblong

I didn't have a problem with them last night before 11. My problems were those setting them off earlier in the week or those that were going past 11.

It could be that I just had a few more idiot neighbors this year than in the past. The housing meltdown introducted a lot more renters.

At 11:30 last night two groups of people in the park had some that ran off popping noises for a good 5 minutes straight.

A WHOLE 5 minutes of your night interupted?

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 11:23 AM

Yes, it is EVERY night, John. And well into the late night hours.
Nobody is saying they can't do it on the 4th or even around the 4th.
This has been going on in my neighborhood since May.

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 11:24 AM

Btw, John, let me wait until you are asleep and set off mortars outside your house at one in the morning. I promise to only do it for five minutes.

**RedRamage** · 07-05-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Antrat

It's part of a larger societal problem.
People just don't have any consideration for others. From the idiots that wait until they get up to the bank drive-thru before filling out their slips, to the people that drive through neighborhoods at night with their radios at full volume.
On my way to work there is construction going on and the lanes are down to one each way. There is a "No Left Turn" sign at the major roads so traffic doesn't back up. Never fails that people ignore it.
Please, don't inconvenience yourself, the fifteen cars behind you don't mind.

I would have to agree with this. Way too many people these days don't seem to give a flying flip about others. (One huge pet peeve of mine... people who stop in the middle of a aisle or the bottom of a stair way to talk to each other. Get the freak out of my way... move to the side or something so people can get thru!)

That said, I tend to be tolerate of some things in some situations. Kinda like the woman who tried sue after getting hit in the head by a baseball at a little league game, you assume some risks when involved in some functions. 4th of July happens to be one of those functions whether we like it or not. I relax my grumpy old man role a little bit for the few days around the 4th. Again, this has to be within reason. If someone is lighting off loud stuff in my park at 2:00am, I don't care if it's the 4th o' July or the Lions just won the SB... I'm still gonna go tell you to leave. Time and a Place... and this ain't the time.

**RedRamage** · 07-05-2012, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by John_Brian_K

A WHOLE 5 minutes of your night interupted?

Well, first of all that was one event that was 5 minutes long. I'm sure that wasn't the ONLY think they lit off. Second, 5 minutes of wake up from a dead sleep can mean 30 minutes or more of time awake at the wrong time. If my kids gets woken up and is scared, that means I have to get up, calm her down, assure her everything is fine, tuck her back in bed, then return to my bed. By this time I'm wide awake and need to start the whole 'falling asleep' process again myself.

Now let's say this happened at 12:00... then at 1:30... then at 3:00... I would be quite upset by that.

**John_Brian_K** · 07-05-2012, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Antrat

Yes, it is EVERY night, John. And well into the late night hours.
Nobody is saying they can't do it on the 4th or even around the 4th.
This has been going on in my neighborhood since May.

Just about every city I know of has a noise ordinance law that usually goes into effect at 10:00am. If you know who is doing it call the cops. If they restart when the cops leave call the cops again and they will get a ticket and most likely stop. Just because fireworks are no longer illegal, breaking a law (noise ordinance) is.

I do not want a few jackles ruining my right to lawfully celebrate the holiday with some fireworks.

**John_Brian_K** · 07-05-2012, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Antrat

Btw, John, let me wait until you are asleep and set off mortars outside your house at one in the morning. I promise to only do it for five minutes.

It happened to me yesterday. I already said as much. I was just about to get to sleep (something that is not easy for me to do to begin with) when they started. It def was a close neighbor within a few houses and it lasted right around 5 minutes.

**John_Brian_K** · 07-05-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by RedRamage

I would have to agree with this. Way too many people these days don't seem to give a flying flip about others. (One huge pet peeve of mine... people who stop in the middle of a aisle or the bottom of a stair way to talk to each other. Get the freak out of my way... move to the side or something so people can get thru!)

That said, I tend to be tolerate of some things in some situations. Kinda like the woman who tried sue after getting hit in the head by a baseball at a little league game, you assume some risks when involved in some functions. 4th of July happens to be one of those functions whether we like it or not. I relax my grumpy old man role a little bit for the few days around the 4th. Again, this has to be within reason. If someone is lighting off loud stuff in my park at 2:00am, I don't care if it's the 4th o' July or the Lions just won the SB... I'm still gonna go tell you to leave. Time and a Place... and this ain't the time.

This is almost exactly how I see it. Especially the bolded part.

**John_Brian_K** · 07-05-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by RedRamage

Well, first of all that was one event that was 5 minutes long. I'm sure that wasn't the ONLY think they lit off. Second, 5 minutes of wake up from a dead sleep can mean 30 minutes or more of time awake at the wrong time. If my kids gets woken up and is scared, that means I have to get up, calm her down, assure her everything is fine, tuck her back in bed, then return to my bed. By this time I'm wide awake and need to start the whole 'falling asleep' process again myself.

Now let's say this happened at 12:00... then at 1:30... then at 3:00... I would be quite upset by that.

Of course you would...so would I. My point is that is illegal in most municipalities (noise ordinance)...call the cops and the people who are breaking the law will be punished not the people who are doing it legally which is what happens with a city wide ban. I know in Dearborn they were not giving warnings when they were called. If it was after 10:00pm and the police showed up and you were breaking the noise ordinance you got a ticket period.

**CMRivdog** · 07-05-2012, 12:24 PM

It seemed a bit quieter in our sub, I think the main culprits were out for the evening. We'll see what happens this weekend

**Oblong** · 07-05-2012, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by John_Brian_K

A WHOLE 5 minutes of your night interupted?

Yep. 5 minutes is too long at 11:30 pm. That's why we have noise ordinances. Not to mention finding leftovers in your yard, or more precise, your dog finding leftovers in your yard.

Much like the $2000 sound system on the $1000 car driving by and rattling everything in your house to show off their kicking bass, when my doors and windows are closed and I cannot hear my TV or radio because of what someone is doing outside, then they are the problem. I have no problem with people lighting them off around teh 4th during reasonable hours. 11:30 is not reasonable.

And it's not just 5 minutes. It's more like 20 minutes because my dog is now wound up and nervously pacing around climbing on furniture, jumping in the bed, etc. But hey... what's the problem. As long as Toothless Billy Ray Bob can be outside in his wife beater blowin' things up... to hell with everybody else. He doesn't have a job anyway.

**John_Brian_K** · 07-05-2012, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Oblong

Yep. 5 minutes is too long at 11:30 pm. That's why we have noise ordinances. Not to mention finding leftovers in your yard, or more precise, your dog finding leftovers in your yard.

Much like the $2000 sound system on the $1000 car driving by and rattling everything in your house to show off their kicking bass, when my doors and windows are closed and I cannot hear my TV or radio because of what someone is doing outside, then they are the problem. I have no problem with people lighting them off around teh 4th during reasonable hours. 11:30 is not reasonable.

And it's not just 5 minutes. It's more like 20 minutes because my dog is now wound up and nervously pacing around climbing on furniture, jumping in the bed, etc. But hey... what's the problem. As long as Toothless Billy Ray Bob can be outside in his wife beater blowin' things up... to hell with everybody else. He doesn't have a job anyway.

So apparently anyone who likes to light off fireworks is in this category right?

I wonder if your dog has ever had a barking fit in the middle of the night that possibly woke your neighbors up? My neighbor had a dog that would yap like crazy and it drove us nuts. We didn't say or do anything about it though because we didnt think that would be 'neighborly'. Suck it up or call the cops.

As far as 'left overs'....pick them up and throw them out. It is not going to kill you I promise. Much like the random pieices of trash that end up on my lawn from some neighbor down the street. I pick it up and throw it out. I do not ban everyone from throwing garbage out because some of it may end up on my lawn.

Again...my point: If they are breaking the law with the ordinance call the cops. They will get a ticket and it will most likely prevent them from doing it again. Maybe you can go over to these peoples houses and actually have a discussion with them and tell them your concerns. Maybe you can hash things out that way?

There are plenty of things that bother me, but I am not going to ask the city to make them illegal.

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 12:41 PM

When I had a dog I never left her in the yard at night.
She did her business and came right back in.
I'm one of those "grumpy old men" that actually is considerate of their neighbors.

**potthole** · 07-05-2012, 05:23 PM

I noticed a bit of an uptick by my house on the 4th, but it wasn't that big of a difference. I did notice, however, quite a bit more on the nights leading up to the 4th.

Starting about mid-June I would hear fireworks a couple times a week. Wasn't a huge fan of it when they were lighting them off prior to July, but at least it wasn't late, and it was usually just a couple of fireworks a night.

**potthole** · 07-05-2012, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by John_Brian_K

As far as 'left overs'....pick them up and throw them out. It is not going to kill you I promise. Much like the random pieices of trash that end up on my lawn from some neighbor down the street. I pick it up and throw it out. I do not ban everyone from throwing garbage out because some of it may end up on my lawn.

Sweet, I'm ditching my garbage service and coming to dump all my **** in your yard.

Everybody may as well stop trying to disagree with JBK. He's made up his mind that he is the only one with a valid opinion and nothing we say can change his mind.

**toadhunter911** · 07-05-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Oblong

I still hear them....

hopefully they lose their fingers or hands.... trash.

Here you go...

Taylor man loses parts of fingers when fireworks explode inches away from his hand

"As soon as I had lit it... Boom!", says Ryan Whitson who lost parts of his fingers when fireworks exploded with his left hand just inches away.

It happened Wednesday night when the Whitsons joined other families in their Taylor neighbor to set off fireworks in the middle of the street in celebration of Independence Day.

This was the first year that Michigan consumers could buy fireworks that are more powerful than mere sparklers and simple items. Several communities fought against the change made by Michigan's legislature.

Twenty-four shells came in the Whitsons' box of fireworks labeled "Kiss of Death." Ryan Whitson says he followed the directions and had no problem lighting the first 20 shells.

Number 21 exploded almost as soon as the wick was lit.

"I told my wife I think I just blew my hand off", says Whitson.

Christina Whitson cried as she told 7 Action News, "I brought him in. Put him in the sink and went outside and yelled for help. That's all I could do".

Ryan was rushed to Oakwood Hospital where he says doctors did what they could. He ended up losing the top half of each of his five fingers on his left hand.

Ryan says doctors have told him that he will likely need multiple surgeries, but he's thankful he didn't lose an eye. Ryan added, I thank God above there was no child around me".

The Whitsons say they are done setting off their own fireworks.

"Never ever again", says Christina Whitson.

**Lousluggage** · 07-05-2012, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by Antrat

Yes, it is EVERY night, John. And well into the late night hours.
Nobody is saying they can't do it on the 4th or even around the 4th.
This has been going on in my neighborhood since May.

Since May? I think I would have gone beserk, or become one of the Undead by now.

The evil person in me thinks you should do this: find out who's setting them off and where they live, make a recording of the noise (especially good if they're screaming, too), then find a way to stash it in their house and have it play at full volume any time they begin to drift off to sleep.

(this is something that came to me in my sleepless stupor as a result of month-long Red Sox riots in October '03 and '04)

**monkeynuts** · 07-05-2012, 06:38 PM

This thread screams angry old man, Gran Torino style. I chuckle thinking of the type of **** I'd see and hear out my window at 2 in the morning when I lived in the residential areas of East Lansing.

**Antrat** · 07-05-2012, 06:39 PM

"As soon as I had lit it... Boom! It done blowed up real good!"

SCTV 4 Farm Film Report - YouTube

**Lousluggage** · 07-05-2012, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by monkeynuts

This thread screams angry old man, Gran Torino style. I chuckle thinking of the type of **** I'd see and hear out my window at 2 in the morning when I lived in the residential areas of East Lansing.

Get off of my lawn!

**hueytaxi** · 07-06-2012, 12:24 AM

Had a Tampa Bay senior hit with an idiot's 9mm bulllet that fell through his hat, into the bridge of his nose, out a nostril, into his lip and through his prominent chin. I'll never understand why people will fire a weapon into the air when so much ground surrounjds them.

**DTroppens** · 07-06-2012, 02:49 AM

I didn't hear anything tonight, well nothing after 10 p.m. We heard one big boom and that's it. Everyone must be waiting for the weekend again.

**Motor City Sonics** · 07-06-2012, 07:07 AM

Oh, for me it was somewhat quiet until after 11pm. I called the cops. Sorry, I have be the grumpy neighbor BECAUSE ITS A WORK NIGHT FOR MANY PEOPLE.

But this is the world we live in now. Few people are considerate of others anymore. Hey, I don't have to work tomorrow, so I will make noise until 12:30. Hey, I need to get off that exit and I am in the left lane - NO PROBLEM, I'll just cut across three lanes of traffic without looking.

Idiots.

**Antrat** · 07-06-2012, 07:17 AM

I actually laughed last night. We have a noise ordinance here that takes effect at 10:30 pm. Last night I was surprised that it had been the quietest in a long while. Then at 10:35 ....BOOM!
I have started using earplugs. It doesn't block out all the noise but it muffles it somewhat.
EDIT: They're a couple reasons I don't call the cops. One, I feel guilty pulling them away from other, more important things, also the main culprits are pretty smart. They set them off and then it gets quiet for 10 minutes or so and then it starts again. It would require perfect timing for the cops to pull up when they are setting them off.
I believe others have called the cops on them, therefore the timing of the fireworks. It looks to be about four 20 something guys living together. Yes, Rob---renters. I can't imagine any of these losers having credit.