Bakersfield City Council will be meeting Wednesday to discuss two potential ordinances that would amend current laws regarding fireworks.
One of these proposals would eliminate July 1 as a day when legal fireworks are allowed. Currently, the city allows "safe and sane" fireworks to be used July 1-4 and on December 31 for a total of five legal days of use. The proposal would dial that back to four.
"We want to keep it closer to the holiday period as well and not have it be such a broad spectrum of use," said Bakersfield Fire Chief Doug Greener.
"We had 803 fireworks-related calls over the period of July first through fifth, so it's a fairly significant issue."
The other proposal would allow "trained employees" to issue citations to someone for violating city firework laws.
"We don't have enough policemen to go out and work July Fourth," said Bakersfield City Council Member Harold Hanson.
"So we'll give some other people of authority the right to go out and cite people."
Both ordinances will be considered for first readings on Wednesday at 3:30. They could then be given second readings on March 2 and could become law in 30 days.
