|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Redwood City, Menlo Park, and East Palo Alto Police Departments, will be holding an anonymous fireworks buyback event on Saturday, June 29, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at 690 Broadway St. in Redwood City.
This will be the third of three anonymous fireworks buyback events hosted by the sheriff’s office in 2024.
By turning in illegal fireworks, residents can receive up to $200 in cash, “with no questions asked,” according to a county press release. The amount of money that attendees receive for turning in fireworks and explosives will be calculated by weight.
“Sheriff’s office bomb technicians and fire personnel from partner agencies are on site at each buyback event to ensure the safe handling and disposal of all fireworks and explosives collected,” said Gretchen Spiker, the director of communications for the sheriff’s office.
The first anonymous fireworks buyback event this year, which took place in Half Moon Bay, resulted in the collection of 51 pounds of illegal fireworks, dozens of mortars and 24 explosive devices, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office hosted its first buyback event in 2023, which resulted in the collection of about 400 pounds of fireworks. Beyond fireworks, the material collected last year included military grade smoke grenades, M-80s, Ariel-class rockets and more.
Fines for illegal fireworks
All fireworks are illegal throughout San Mateo County, except in the cities of Pacifica and San Bruno where “safe and sane” fireworks (as designated by the state fire marshal) are allowed. The San Mateo County ban on fireworks was updated in 2023 to increase penalties for violators, and to make spectators of illegal fireworks events liable.
The fine for all firework violations (use, possession and sale) in the county is now $1,000 per offense. Spectators at unpermitted fireworks displays can be charged up to $500 for being present at the event. If a fireworks violation takes place in the presence of minors, or within 500 feet of schools, daycares, long term care facilities, humane societies and pet rescue shelters, or if the violation is made by someone who is consuming alcohol, fines can be up to $2,000 per offense.
People who set off illegal fireworks can also be found guilty of a misdemeanor if the fireworks cause bodily harm to someone, or if they cause more than $1,000 in property damage.
Nicole Acker, a spokesperson for the Menlo Park Police Department, said that enforcing the city and county fireworks ordinances can sometimes pose a challenge for officers.
“By the time a noise complaint is received and officers are dispatched, the individuals responsible have stopped their activities and/or left the area, making it difficult to catch them in the act,” she said. “Also, the public can be reluctant to provide information to identify the persons responsible.”
Police departments all around the Peninsula have been cracking down on fireworks violations in recent years, and are hoping that education and outreach efforts will help to enhance community safety.
“We are actively working on strategies, such as community outreach to educate the public on the dangers and legalities of fireworks,” said Acker. “We also encourage residents to engage in dialogue with neighbors who may be using fireworks inappropriately, fostering a community-based approach to the issue. This is also where the buyback event is important and allows collaboration with San Mateo County agencies, and offers the public a place to dispose of fireworks.”
San Mateo County residents are encouraged to attend sanctioned fireworks shows, rather than setting off fireworks in the streets or in their backyards.
“By attending only sanctioned fireworks shows, we can celebrate responsibly and ensure everyone has a safe July 4 holiday,” said San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus in a press release.
State leaders, San Mateo County agree to negotiate funding fix ahead of 1,000+ layoffsSeptember 3, 2026 5:21 pm