© 2024 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Selected stories from the WKAR NewsRoom in your morning email. SUBSCRIBE HERE

Complaints Continue on MI Fireworks Law

nasirkhan
/
morgueFile

Some state lawmakers are already discussing possible changes to Michigan’s new fireworks law. It allows consumers to buy more powerful fireworks than they could before this summer, and has been the subject of a lot of complaints.    

Complaints about explosions, whistles, and other noises going late into the night have flooded phones and e-mail in-boxes of state officials since the law was changed. Complaints spiked in the days before and after July Fourth.

Governor Rick Snyder’s constituent office reports at least two thousand complaints.

Geralyn Lasher is the governor’s communications director. She says local governments don’t have to wait for the state to act to enact their own limits on fireworks.

“There’s still some confusion, I think, at the local levels of what they can do to address some of the issues, some of the noise issues,” she says.

Those ordinances cannot ban the fireworks on the day before, the day of, or the day after a national holiday. The next national holiday is Labor Day at the beginning of September.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
Journalism at this station is made possible by donors who value local reporting. Donate today to keep stories like this one coming. It is thanks to your generosity that we can keep this content free and accessible for everyone. Thanks!