The Fourth of July holiday weekend is drawing nearer, and many Minnesotans will celebrate the holiday by taking in a fireworks display put on by their city or municipality. You may even be hoping to shoot off some fireworks of your own, but is it legal to shoot off fireworks in Minnesota? We explore what the law says about fireworks use and the potential penalties in today’s blog.
Are Fireworks Legal In Minnesota?
According to the law, the personal use of consumer-grade fireworks in Minnesota is illegal. The law also outlines some specific types of fireworks that are illegal for personal use. The following types of fireworks are illegal for the average adult to shoot off for their personal enjoyment:
- Explosive fireworks
- Fireworks that leave the ground
- Firecrackers
- Bottle rockets
- Roman candles
And while they may not be the most exciting fireworks, it is worth noting that sparklers, snakes and smoke devices do not fit into the above definition, and these are legal for personal enjoyment in Minnesota.
Penalties For Illegal Fireworks Use
In most instances, a person caught illegally possessing, selling or using the previously listed fireworks in Minnesota will be charged with a misdemeanor offense, which is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Most of these situations will only result in a monetary fine, but it’s worth noting that jail time is a possibility. Even so, nobody wants to pay a big fine and have their fireworks confiscated, so make some smart choices ahead of the holiday.
We mentioned that the above only applies to most violations, as the law regarding fireworks notes that individuals caught in possession of a large amount of fireworks can be hit with a gross misdemeanor charge, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and fines up to $3,000. Minnesota defines a large amount of fireworks as at least 35 pounds of gross container weight, so you’d be putting on a pretty big show if you got caught with that many fireworks. Again, it seems likely that a first offense would be handled with a simple fine, but it will be larger than the misdemeanor fine.
If you want to enjoy some fireworks this year, we recommend heading to a sanctioned display put on by a local organization near you. Fireworks shows have once again returned after many places cancelled programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, so odds are there’s a show near you that you can take in.
Hopefully you don’t need any legal help regarding a fireworks arrest, but we’re here to help in the event that you run into trouble. For more information, or for assistance with a different criminal matter, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
