I hate duds
 

Fireworks that is... stupid bottle rockets. I get some that explode just after they go off, never really reaching the height they were supposed to.

Which reminds me...is it illegal to shoot off fireworks where you are? If so do people do them anyways? You ever see the police "stop" someone shooting off illegal fireworks?

Re: I hate duds
 

I lit a fountain off one time (on the 4th) on private property and an officer had seen it. He stopped and told me not to do it again. As other fountains and illegal fireworks were exploding all around us I explained that what I had wasn't illegal. In front of my children he started cussing and threatened to throw me in jail for arguing with him.

I apologized and then shut up. He drove off without talking to anyone else. I was scratching my head for awhile about that one.

Re: I hate duds
 

We can't buy bottle rockets here, but we can buy them in MO or AR and then shoot them off here. (I don't think you're allowed to shoot off anything in city limits).

Roman candles, bottle rockets & sparklers are my favorites.

Re: I hate duds
 

Ive been in areas of this city where it seemed almost like an organized fireworks display. People are launching Morters. Then there are the cakes...no mere bottle rockets..and not a cop in sight until about 10:30

Re: I hate duds
 

I was in NYC's Chinatown on the 4th in 1986 - the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. It was like the fall of Saigon. Huge mortars and commercial style fountains that went 4 or 5 stories up.

Crazy fun.

Re: I hate duds
 

I think the law is you have to drive across a state line to get the "good" fireworks. Even if they're for sale in your state - you can't buy them. They're for people driving in from the other side of the state line.

I've still got a brick of Black Cats and and bunch of bottle rockets. It rained all night here.

Re: I hate duds
 

In California all fireworks that explode or "shoot" up in the sky (ie rockets) are illegal. Only in certain cities that have passed their own law are "safe and sane" fireworks allowed to be sold and used.

It's illegal to buy fireworks in those cities and take them to other cities and use them (unless that city allows them).

So, for example, where I live no fireworks at all, period. In a city just a few miles away they sell safe and sane fireworks...basically glorified sparklers and blooming flower type stuff and fountains. Infact they don't sell real sparklers anymore. Those are illegal too. No firecrackers. No Roman Candles.

Re: I hate duds
 

We're outside city limits, so we can do them. Last night was amazing. I've never seen so many fireworks going off. The fireworks stands were completely packed. It was a good year for fireworks sales. Last year was a very slow year for them. I wonder if this means the economy is picking up, or at least people feel like it is?

Re: I hate duds
 

In Ohio fireworks are displayed by professionals in city parks, etc.
It is legal for private citizens to buy fireworks but it is not legal to set them off.
So, when you buy them in Ohio you have to sign something saying you won't set them off. (It's sorta like the Affirmation Statement -- nobody really means it or believes it but it is a piece of paper with a signature and it allows the seller to comply with the law and go ahead and sell them.)

Re: I hate duds
 

Our Fire Dept. does the fireworks in town. We live in the country so we can use fireworks. Already reading horror stories in the news. Some guy lost an arm using homemade fireworks.