NYPD Cracks Down On Illegal S.I. Fireworks
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Two weeks before the Fourth of July, the NYPD is warning Staten Islanders not to have illegal fireworks and punishing those who do. Borough reporter Amanda Farinacci filed the following report. The St. George Ferry Terminal is plastered with signs reminding that fireworks are illegal and dangerous and that those caught with them will be punished. That is because city police department officials say that large illegal fireworks displays are a particular problem on Staten Island.
"The type of residences in the other boroughs, excluding Staten Island, generally play into not having these large shows, block party-type shows," said Borough Commander Chief Stephen Paragallo. "Not to say they don't happen in the other boroughs, but not to the degree they happen here."
As part of an aggressive campaign to discourage New Yorkers from buying, keeping or selling fireworks, the NYPD is offering rewards to encourage people to call 911 and 311 or use email to report anyone in possession of fireworks. A mobile billboard with the same message will soon be on display on major highways.
All calls and emails to the NYPD remain anonymous.
Since the program began June 8, tips have led to more than a dozen active investigations and at least one arrest.
"That hotline is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week by somebody in the borough staff," said Paragallo. "We send out somebody immediately to investigate, whether it be a uniformed radio car or undercover police officers, detectives."
Residents told NY1 that they have already started hearing fireworks in their neighborhoods, and say they are not sure how seriously people are taking the police's crackdown.
"I'm gonna expect to hear some. I might just blow off some myself," said one local.
"I've always kind of ignored it. I felt it wasn't my business, but I knew it wasn't legal," said another.
Last year, the NYPD seized 560 cases citywide, like the ones seen above. So far this year, the number is about 200.
Police have also visited more than 100 areas that have been trouble spots in the past to remind residents not to shoot off fireworks and to leave the light shows to the professionals.
On Staten Island, the borough-specific hotline to handle complaints and provide immediate responses is 1-718-667-2219. Emails can be sent to sifireworkshotline@gmail.com.