Every July, our community comes together to celebrate Independence Day. But for many Sacramento County residents, the holiday has become a night of anxiety and frustration. Not because of legal festivities like sparklers or fountains that shoot out colorful sparks, but because of the overwhelming use of illegal fireworks—the kind that explode high into the sky and often end up lighting things on fire.
This year’s Fourth of July was no different, and it appeared to be worse than previous years, which were already bad. We received a huge volume of complaints from all over the district from residents frightened by the scale of illegal fireworks activity. The noise, the risk of fires, the danger to children and pets, and the general disruption to neighborhoods were all common concerns.
Every year, Sacramento County debates how to handle illegal fireworks. In the past, we have tried increasing fines, creating a social host ordinance to hold party hosts accountable, dedicating Code Enforcement teams to the task, and cracking down on illegal fireworks dealers. Despite these efforts, the problem persists and often worsens.
But year after year, these strategies fall short. Here’s why:
- Fines don’t work if no one is there to issue them.
- The social host ordinance fails when officers can’t safely identify and cite violators in the moment.
- Code enforcement officers aren’t sworn officers, and they rightly hesitate to walk into chaotic, often intoxicated crowds.
- Law enforcement is overwhelmed every Fourth of July—responding to a sharp uptick in calls for service, including violent crime often fueled by intoxicated individuals.
- Illegal fireworks are easy to get. They’re legal just one state over, and there’s no system to stop them from flooding into California.
This creates what feels like an impossible problem. Residents suffer from the noise, safety risks, and fear. Pets and children are scared. Neighborhoods are disrupted. Fire danger increases significantly, especially during our dry summer months.
I want to take a moment to address this issue head-on. I have heard from countless community members who are frightened and fed up. While I understand past concerns about using Code Enforcement to break up large gatherings—and the safety risks involved—I believe we need a new approach that avoids direct confrontation.
My plan is to use our Code Enforcement team to blanket the community documenting illegal fireworks activity in real time, especially at parties where the social host ordinance applies, and then issue hefty fines (upwards of $10,000) through the mail after the fact. Just like a red-light camera ticket, people would receive a citation based on clear documentation of the violation. No direct confrontation is needed. This keeps everyone safer while still creating accountability.
At the same time, we will be engaging with the Sheriff’s Department to identify targeted strategies for addressing large public gatherings—particularly in parks, parking lots, and, in some cases, intersections—where illegal fireworks are being launched openly. While Code Enforcement focuses on documenting activity at private residences, law enforcement can help address the most flagrant public displays in a coordinated and safe manner.
If we implement this, it is critical that we clearly advertise the enforcement effort well before next Fourth of July. People need to know that if they use illegal fireworks, they are very likely to receive a substantial fine in the mail afterward—and that we will follow through.
I want to be clear: we cannot just send out a few tickets and expect that to make a difference. This has to be a large-scale effort. We should aim to issue an extremely large number of citations next year. That is how we send the message that this kind of dangerous activity will not be ignored.
Illegal fireworks are not just a nuisance. They pose real risks to public safety and property. They create fear and disrupt communities. And they undermine the celebrations that so many of us want to enjoy safely and peacefully.
It is time to move beyond talk and ineffective enforcement efforts. We need a smarter, more strategic plan that protects our residents and holds offenders accountable.
I look forward to working with County staff and the community to develop and implement this plan. Please continue to share your thoughts and concerns with my office at 916-874-5491 or SupervisorRodriguez@saccounty.gov
Rosario Rodriguez authored this community commentary. Rodriguez is the Sacramento County District 4 Supervisor, which includes the communities of Folsom, Citrus Heights Orangevale, Antelope, Rio Linda, Elverta, Gold River, Rancho Murieta, North Highlands, Carmichael, Foothill Farms, and Fair Oaks.
