All fireworks are illegal in Oxnard. Despite this, each year during the month leading up to July 4th, the Oxnard Police Department receives thousands of fireworks complaints. In 2020, 3329 fireworks calls were received during that time period; 1,078 of them occurred on the July 4th weekend. On the 4th of July itself, during the 8-hour time frame between 6:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., 715 fireworks calls were received.
Fireworks are a significant nuisance to the majority of our residents and they can be extremely dangerous. For example, in 2019 a young adult male was tragically killed in our city by a mortar that exploded. Each year fireworks land on rooftops and cause several structure fires in the city. Fireworks also cause emotional distress for many of our residents. They can also be very distressing for pets. In one incident that occurred last year, a resident reported that his dog fatally impaled himself from the stress of the fireworks activity. Many of our residents resort to administering prescription sedatives to their pets to help them cope with fireworks.
The above reasons demonstrate why the Oxnard Police Department has a zero tolerance enforcement approach towards fireworks. While it is often very difficult for officers to catch fireworks violators, each year the Department nonetheless prioritizes deploying as many police resources as reasonably possible towards fireworks enforcement. For example, last year the Department issued more fireworks citations than any other police department in Ventura County.
This year, the department is planning another comprehensive fireworks enforcement effort utilizing all available resources within reason. This means that many officers who would normally have Independence Day off have been assigned to work, including officers in specialized lateral assignments such as our Neighborhood Policing Team, Homeless Liaison Unit, Special Enforcement Unit, and Traffic Unit. The Department will deploy the officers in a multitude of capacities including uniformed patrol, undercover operations, motorcycle, bicycle, and foot patrols. Additionally, the Department will deploy several unmanned aerial vehicles (“Drones”) to detect locations where fireworks are occurring. Personnel from the Oxnard Fire Department and Code Compliance Department will also participate in this comprehensive team effort.
Any individual caught using, or possessing fireworks, is subject to a fine ranging from $250-$1000; “Safe and Sane “fireworks (sparklers, cones, flowers, etc.) carry a $250 fine; while “Dangerous” fireworks (firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, M80s, mortars, etc.) carry a $1000 fine.
In preparation for the fireworks enforcement effort, the Department will be positioning message trailers in specific areas of the city where last year had heavy fireworks activity. The message trailers will display information reminding residents that fireworks are illegal and informing them of the fines. Additionally, the Department has already begun mailing warning letters to addresses where fireworks activity was reported last year. The letters advise the residents that their addresses will be closely monitored this year for any repeat violations. The Department’s Crime Analysis Unit plays a valuable role in this effort by analyzing recent fireworks calls and regularly updating patrol officers of the specific locations where fireworks are occurring. Officers starting their shifts are directed to target those specific addresses for enforcement purposes during their patrols. NPT officers will also be proactively sending out warning notices to specific addresses that are generating fireworks calls. Furthermore, over the next several weeks, NPT officers will be conducting periodic undercover fireworks suppression operations at night that will involve the use of a Department drone, which is a valuable resource to help pinpoint addresses where fireworks are occurring.
The City of Oxnard has a social host ordinance which holds property owners responsible for fireworks activity occurring on their property. Last year, for the first time, the Department used a Drone on the 4th of July which aided in identifying specific addresses where fireworks were being used. However, given the high volume of fireworks calls on July 4th, officers were not always able to immediately contact the property owners/renters to issue a citation. Nonetheless, Neighborhood Policing officers followed up by mailing fireworks citations to the property owners. The Department will follow the same procedure this year but will be using two (2) additional Drones. Property owners where dangerous fireworks are occurring will be subject to receiving a citation for $1000.
The Department is respectfully asking all of our residents to celebrate Independence Day safely, and respect the peace and well being of their neighbors, by refraining from using fireworks.
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