Police, firefighters prepare for Fourth of July; expect traffic and big fines for fireworks

Capt. Steve Clark is already fielding phone calls from misinformed tourists who want to know what time the city's fireworks display starts Saturday.

[annomynous]

[quote]Beginning today, firefighters and sheriff's deputies will be patrolling neighborhoods to enforce a "zero-tolerance" policy on fireworks. Anyone caught with fireworks, whether they are the "safe and sane" models sold in Watsonville and elsewhere in the state or commerical-grade explosives, outside of Watsonville city limits, will trade their fireworks for a $1,000 ticket.[/quote]
Can you believe this BS? The fines for sparklers and snakes is the same illegal high explosive devices which are against federal law! The BATFE could have come over from San Jose and busted that idiot near KSCO a few weeks ago. It's a big deal. Putting all of these things in the same category makes no sense.

Santa Cruz county didn't have the guts to fire it's gun toting goons, who lit off a bunch of illegal firecrackers in the sheriff's parking garage several years ago. Those gutless stupidvisors are scared s----- of the local pig union. Laws are just the little people around here.

[quote]"Fireworks have been illegal in the county for years. I mean, 30-plus years they've been illegal within the county," Aptos/La Selva Fire Marshal Jim Dias said. "There's no need for a warning. It's been well advertised for years."[quote]
Not much has changed over the years. Aptos/La Selva Fire Marshal, Richard Chin barged into a midnight mass at Ressurrection church. He cited the nuns for using candles. So, now they've got another goon with the same kind of fascist attitude...

[Cat Piddle]

smoke em if you got em

[Happy]

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July everyone. Celebrate. We are a great country. Thanks to all fire, police, park rangers, county roads department, and EMS for the service you provide this holiday. The sane portion of the community appreciates what you do.

[Electrocute the Tourists]

Blah Blah Blah......There will be thousands of fireworks from darkness to 11 pm and there is NOTHING THAT JOHNNY LAW CAN DO! Haven't they figured that out yet? Every year its the same old token newspaper article. ooooo "zero-tolerance"...s cary! Do I get a ticket for writing this?

[Sandy Crack]

If you LOVE your oh so special boom flash zing fireworks sooooooo much, then light them off in your garage. Why do all the pyro kooks think that everyone wants to celebrate with them? What a waste of my tax dollars! And don't try telling me "it's the valleys" when it's a bunch of local jizzbombs too.

[Just Joan]

Zero tolerance cracks me up. It'll sound like a war zone just like it always does.

[a stink]

If this is like any other year, no one will be issued a citation. If emergency services really followed through on their threats, think of all the revenue they could collect. It's pretty easy money, guys! Please, actually DO IT this year!

[mountainboy]

"Pyro kooks"? America has been celebrating it's independence with fireworks for over two-hundred years, so when did we become "kooks"?

Sandy Crack can go hide in the shower, alongside my frightened doggy. Might just help with that sandy crack problem you have.

[police state]

There's nothing quite like celebrating our freedom and independence than by living in a police state created for the day. I've never heard of a fire being started on a beach or in the ocean from fireworks, have you? This has got to be the safest place possible to set them off. This day seems to have become a day for puffed up chests of testosterone driven control freaks to show off how macho they can be by fining people who are simply trying to have one day to enjoy their families and their lives. Our country is in an economic meltdown. A woman is beaten every 8 seconds. 50 million people have no health care. Unemployment is in the double digits. Aren't these much bigger problems than fireworks on a beach?

I'm very surprised Santa Cruz not only tolerates, but supports and encourages a Police State under any circumstances, but ESPECIALLY on a day to celebrate our FREEDOM.

[Joe]

Well the city should write as many $1000 tickets as possible, they need the money!

[umm]

Sandy Crack wrote:

If you LOVE your oh so special boom flash zing fireworks sooooooo much, then light them off in your garage. Why do all the pyro kooks think that everyone wants to celebrate with them? What a waste of my tax dollars! And don't try telling me "it's the valleys" when it's a bunch of local jizzbombs too.

if you hate them so much, stay in your garage for the one night out of the year when people light fireworks.. unless they are on your property or aiming/ shooting fireworks at your property, why and how is it your business? people are different, and everyone likes to celebrate in their own way.. if they aren't hurting anyone with the fireworks, there shouldn't be any problems. nobody likes the party-pooper!

[Food For Thought]

I wonder if the sentinel cuts and paste the story from year to year to save money.

For those who think we live in a police state only on the day we celebrate are freedom, your wrong. We live in a police state every day, it is just more visible on the fourth.

I personally don't care if people light fireworks, but for the police to close roads, harass law abiding citizens while people openly drink and light fireworks only yards away is absurd.

[Fred]

police state wrote:

There's nothing quite like celebrating our freedom and independence than by living in a police state created for the day. I've never heard of a fire being started on a beach or in the ocean from fireworks, have you? This has got to be the safest place possible to set them off. This day seems to have become a day for puffed up chests of testosterone driven control freaks to show off how macho they can be by fining people who are simply trying to have one day to enjoy their families and their lives. Our country is in an economic meltdown. A woman is beaten every 8 seconds. 50 million people have no health care. Unemployment is in the double digits. Aren't these much bigger problems than fireworks on a beach?
I'm very surprised Santa Cruz not only tolerates, but supports and encourages a Police State under any circumstances, but ESPECIALLY on a day to celebrate our FREEDOM.

"testosterone driven control freaks"?
Penis envy at work!

[john doe]

I'm very surprised Santa Cruz not only tolerates, but supports and encourages a Police State under any circumstances, but ESPECIALLY on a day to celebrate our FREEDOM.

Except for MARIJUANA! City voters passed a new law that makes ticketing the potheads the lowest priority offense. "Leave them alone, fuxzz." I'm gonna turn on my police scanners on the 4th and listen to the SHTF...

[wildman]

At a thousand bucks a pop, we may be able to balance the budget. Let's hope lots of people show up and break the law. Maybe we can deputize the City Council and Board of Supervisors.

[Loser]

Local wrote:

I am so glad there have been cuts to the fire and police lately. Me and my buddies are going down to Castle beach and we are going to party our **** off, getting messed up and lighting of as many illegal fireworks as possible, we are letting loss the 4th, and to all those rich jackass out of towner home owners in seabright...kiss my a#@
<quoted text>

Yea screw everyone Ill party man. Drink get messed up and party. Yell and screen to show how cool and fun i am. Bang on drums and yell and screen and set firework off. Yea party man.

[Food For Thought]

wildman wrote:

At a thousand bucks a pop, we may be able to balance the budget. Let's hope lots of people show up and break the law. Maybe we can deputize the City Council and Board of Supervisors.

I wonder how much overtime the police will get during their "show of force", certainly not enough to cover the few tickets they may actually write.

[Beach Criminal]

wildman wrote:

At a thousand bucks a pop, we may be able to balance the budget. Let's hope lots of people show up and break the law. Maybe we can deputize the City Council and Board of Supervisors.

Everyone seems to be forgetting that they said the same thing last year, but the court threw out most of not all of the citations. I wonder if they'll waste out tax dollars on rented cyclone fencing again this year.
The cops have been incredibly overzealous with the road closures and harassment for well over a decade now. I'll never forget finding my friend's little sister crying on my porch after she was yelled at by a deputy and told to park 2 miles away when she tried to reach my house for a BBQ.

[citizen]

police state wrote:

There's nothing quite like celebrating our freedom and independence than by living in a police state created for the day. I've never heard of a fire being started on a beach or in the ocean from fireworks, have you? This has got to be the safest place possible to set them off. This day seems to have become a day for puffed up chests of testosterone driven control freaks to show off how macho they can be by fining people who are simply trying to have one day to enjoy their families and their lives. Our country is in an economic meltdown. A woman is beaten every 8 seconds. 50 million people have no health care. Unemployment is in the double digits. Aren't these much bigger problems than fireworks on a beach?
I'm very surprised Santa Cruz not only tolerates, but supports and encourages a Police State under any circumstances, but ESPECIALLY on a day to celebrate our FREEDOM.

I like living in a police state. Would you rather live in a Hippy state? Call a Hippy next time you get assaulted or robbed.

[Let Them Blow]

a stink wrote:

If this is like any other year, no one will be issued a citation. If emergency services really followed through on their threats, think of all the revenue they could collect. It's pretty easy money, guys! Please, actually DO IT this year!

Do what??? Cite people? Perhaps we should send YOU on a vaction! I say let them blow at the beach all they want. Why bother citing people? It's the safest place to do it. Cite the people up in Felton/Ben Lomond/Boulder Creek areas because it actually is a fire hazard up there.