In my area anything that either leaves the ground or explodes is not legal. This includes bottle rockets, firecrackers and Roman candles, among others. These fireworks can be purchased in my state (Idaho), but the purchaser has to be at least 18 years old and must sign a waiver agreeing to take them out of state (yeah right, like anyone actually does this). Legal fireworks are pretty much limited to fountains and sparklers. Ground bloom flowers are still legal (I think), but Jumping Jacks (a smaller version of the flowers which behave more erratically) were banned several years ago. In some areas, such as around the foothills north and east of Boise, no fireworks of any kind are allowed because of the high fire danger and the proximity to homes in the area.
I live on an indian reservation (north of Seattle Washington), so just about anything goes here…1/2 the tribal members sell fireworks at a place called “BOOM CITY”, about a mile from where I live…I know that certain stuff is illegal, and occasionally there is a federal “sting” that shuts down one or two of them, but it rarely slows them down much. You can get just about anything available there, tho you aren’t supposed to take them off the reservation (everyone does)
I have learned to sleep thru the month or two of continuous explosions of M-80’s and such…though, it pisses me off that I have had to replace my mailbox three times now.
Same in NC. Nothing that explodes or leaves the ground.
In California, you can’t even get sparklers. They replaced them with something like a mini road flare on a stick. They suck.
In California, yes you can buy safe & sane stuff…the stands just opened.
In my city you can’t even have sparklers…most people just go to Seaide on the beach & set off anything whether it’s legal or not.
In Massachusetts, pretty much anything past “lightning bug” is illegal. However, New Hampshire is immediately to the north and they seem to allow a pretty wide selection of Roman candle, bottle rockets, and ladyfinger type of firecrackers. No cherry bombs though.
I was driving up there the other day and stopped in a place called “Three fingered Eddy’s” to look around. Nothing like truth in advertising.
The net effect of proximity to NH fireworks is that there’s a fair amount of unsanctioned firework activity in my neck of the woods. Also, if you hang out on the beach up in Salisbury, Mass bordering NH in early July, it looks like the entire coast northwards is under rocket attack.
I think Illinois state law prohibits anything that explodes or leaves the ground, and my city has banned sparklers as well. However, most people from around here drive 5 minutes across the (Indiana) border and buy anything they want. Since I live in a small suburb (downstate), the police pretty much know everyone and let you do what you want as long as you’re not being stupid about things.
My city puts on the best fireworks display within probably a 50 or 100 mile radius though, so even law-abiding citizens can get their pyrotechnic kicks in.
Oregon is similar to Idaho, I think. You can’t buy any of that stuff here. But Washington is somewhat more permissive, so you can get some of it there if you want to drive all that way. Not really worth it, though. Thank God we’re allowed sparklers! No sparklers would suck. 
There are some communities in my area that sell quite a range of fireworks, and others where they’re not allowed. So since they can legally be purchased about a mile from my house, even though I live in an area where they’re not allowed that’s widely observed only by ignoring it. Last year the cops who live 1/2 block up the street were out setting off the fireworks. Sigh.
In New York, you can’t get anything of any kind unless you have a special permit (which is, of course, what lets the professionals do their fireworks shows). Even sparklers are illegal, and have been for years. This year I had a few things to play with - sparklers, Roman candles, and a box of various other things - because my friend came over from Connecticut, where you can buy them at Walmart. We had to go out in the boonies to use them, though, so the cops wouldn’t pick us up.
IIRC, Arlen Specter introduced legislation that makes farting at a lit candle illegal in PA. :rolleyes:
Would it be really rotten of me to mention that they sell big combo packs of fireworks in the grocery stores 'round these parts?
I don’t know the actual laws involved, as I don’t have much interest in do-it-yourself pyrotechnics, but I recall hearing/reading/being told somewhere along the line that pretty much everything is legal, so long as you’re buying it for “agricultural purposes.” (with a waiver much like the out of state use mentioned by dwc1970)
Everyone on the Gulf Coast of Florida needs to scare roaming rhinocerouseses outtin’ the orange trees, donchaknow.
This has been confusing me: at least in this part of NC (extreme Northeastern), fireworks–serious fireworks–are sold at Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie, for goodness sake!
This is my first 4th of July in NC, so I’m eager to see just how closely the law is followed around these parts.
Pantellerite…You will find that those serious fireworks don’t do anything but make noise and shoot out sparks.
On Maui you get a permit for $25…
They actually recall these things? Yep:
"Reloadable Firework Under Recall
American Promotional Events has recalled 22,700 “TNT” reloadable fireworks because the base can break during launch.
If the device is reused after the base breaks, the fireworks can go in unexpected directions.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said there have been two reports of the base breaking. No injuries were reported."
http://www.theksbwchannel.com/money/2308828/detail.html
In Georgia, everything’s illegal. I think you can still get sparklers, though.
(Tennessee)It varies city-by-city. I think pretty much everything is legal in this city, save for the m-80’s and such, however there are no fireworks at all in Davidson County (where Nashville is located). (this is all to the best of my knowledge, if any doper in TN is more knowledgable, please correct me)
Thanks, Reeder. I’ll look at the box more closely next time I see 'em up for sale. I just buy sparklers for The Kid, anyway, so it still works for me!
Kansas - The only thing I can think of that’s illegal is Bottle Rockets, but you can still get them here if you know where to look. My brother came home with a gross of them last week and he’s 12. And if you get caught with them, the cops aren’t going to do anything - probably just tell you to be careful and point them away from people and houses.
And don’t feel too bad if all you can get is sparklers, at least you can make Sparkler Bombs!
IIRC in Iowa, possession of almost any kind of fireworks (bottle rockets, firecrackers, etc) was legal. However, it was illegal to buy, sell, transport, or use said fireworks. So, assuming they just magically materialized in your posession, and you did nothing but stare at them, you weren’t breaking any laws.