Las Vegas Criminal Defense Blog

Last Sunday a fire erupted in the garage of a North Las Vegas residence. The Fire Department determined that it was caused from improper disposal of the fireworks. Fireworks need to be submerged in a bucket of water in order to be extinguished. The owner reportedly let the debris cool and put them in a plastic bag instead. The damages amounted to $125,000. There's no word whether the state will issue a criminal complaint for reckless endangerment or for violating Nevada fireworks law.

Nevada fireworks law prohibits the sale, use or ownership of fireworks in Clark County. The only exception is the week prior to Fourth of July, when licensed vendors may sell Safe-N-Sane fireworks. But even these fireworks are illegal the other 51 weeks of the year.

Violating Nevada fireworks law by buying, using or possessing illegal fireworks is a misdemeanor. Penalties include up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. It's also a misdemeanor to set off fireworks within 100 feet of a gas station, fireworks booth or anywhere with flammable materials. The judge may also impose restitution to pay for any damage.

For more on this story go to: http://www.lvrj.com/news/house-fire-in-north-las-vegas-caused-by-improper-disposal-of-fireworks-124986904.html

Many fireworks that are illegal in Clark County can be legally sold and used in the Moapa River Reservation. The Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza encourages customers to detonate their purchases on the "pad" behind the store. But many of their customers risk arrest for committing the Nevada crime of illegal fireworks by bringing the fireworks into Clark County.

The Nevada crime of illegal fireworks makes it unlawful to possess any type of fireworks in Clark County with one exception. People may buy and use Safe-N-Sane fireworks in Clark County in the week leading up to July Fourth. But after that even the Safe-N-Sane fireworks become illegal.

The Nevada crime of illegal fireworks is punished as a misdemeanor. It carries up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. In addition, the fireworks will be confiscated.

For more on this story go to: http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/124933179.html

Starting today licensed vendors begin selling Safe-N-Sane variety fireworks throughout Clark County. In accordance with Nevada fireworks law they may remain on sale all week until 11:59 PM on July 4. After that the sale and purchase of all fireworks, including Safe-N-Sane, will be illegal until the week before the next July Fourth.

It's illegal under Nevada fireworks law to bring fireworks into Clark County from anywhere else, even the Safe-N-Sane variety. Police often set up checkpoints along Blue Mountain to check cars for fireworks that may have been purchased in Nye County, where it's legal to sell them. Any fireworks found will be confiscated, and the driver and/or passengers may be cited or arrested.

Nevada fireworks law makes possessing illegal fireworks a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.

People who use illegal fireworks are also vulnerable to prosecution for related crimes. For instance someone who uses fireworks in willful disregard of another's safety may be arrested for reckless endangerment, which may carry as much as five years in prison. And maliciously using fireworks to destroy property can carry decades in prison depending on whether anyone got hurt or killed.

For more on this story go to: http://www.8newsnow.com/story/14972826/fire-department-preps-for-fireworks-season

Las Vegas illegal fireworks law prohibits the purchase and use of all types of fireworks with one exception. In the week prior to July Fourth, licensed vendors may sell Safe-N-Sane fireworks throughout Clark County. Tomorrow booths will begin appearing across the valley to sell these specially-approved fireworks.

Las Vegas illegal fireworks law makes it a crime to use any of the following types of fireworks at anytime during the year including July Fourth: Chasers, trick matches, M-80s, mortar shells, cigarette loads, autofoolers, and any other type that is not Safe-N-Sane. People suspected of buying or using illegal fireworks will face misdemeanor charges carrying up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.

It is legal to purchase many types of fireworks in Nye County, but Las Vegas illegal fireworks law prohibits people from carrying them across county lines into Clark County. Police may set up checkpoints along Blue Diamond and search cars for people trying to smuggle in fireworks. It's also legal to purchase various non-Safe-N-Sane fireworks in the Moapa Indian Reservation, but for safety reasons the vendors usually require purchases to ignite them on-site.

For fireworks safety tips go to:
http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/14972806/fireworks-go-on-sale-tuesday

In the weeks prior to Fourth of July the police routinely set up checkpoints on various Nevada highways. But they're not to check for DUI--they're to check if anyone is trying to commit the Nevada crime of illegal fireworks. Last year Las Vegas Metropolitan police confiscated tens of thousands of pounds of illegal fireworks on Blue Diamond alone.

Each county in Nevada has its own rules regulating the sale and use of consumer (class C) fireworks. Clark County permits the use and possession of Safe-N-Sane fireworks that are sold by licensed vendors only during the week before July 4. Otherwise fireworks are illegal in Clark County.

Examples of fireworks that are always unlawful in Nevada, even on July 4th, include roman candles, bottle rockets, parachutes, black jacks, and lady fingers. It's a misdemeanor to possess, buy or transport fireworks in Clark County (with the exception of the Safe-n-Sane ones in the week prior to July 4th). Maximum penalties for the Nevada crime of illegal fireworks include six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.

For more on the Nevada crime of illegal fireworks go to: http://www.8newsnow.com/story/5109836/law-enforcement-seizing-illegal-fireworks

Until this year Nevada fireworks law prohibited the sale and use of fireworks on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation. But lawmakers decided to lift the ban because police had trouble regulating it. Now some fireworks including small mortars are available for sale in designated area at designated times. The revenue, which includes a 7.5% fee, will go towards the tribe's public safety departments and for lake maintenance.

Nevada fireworks law outlaws the sale and use of consumer fireworks throughout most of Nevada. Each county has its own laws regulating when and where fireworks may be used legally. However consumer fireworks are always illegal on streets, sidewalks, school property, and any federal, state or city property such as parks. Fireworks remain illegal in Clark County except for a specific, low-risk variety available only during the week prior to July 4. Consumer fireworks can't be brought into Clark County even if they were legally obtained elsewhere.

Nevada police may set up checkpoints on various streets and highways to search cars for illegal fireworks during high-incident times such as July 4th. People found with fireworks may then be given a citation or even arrested, and the fireworks will be confiscated. Violating Nevada fireworks law is a misdemeanor, carrying up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.

For more on this story go to: http://www.rgj.com/article/20110528/NEWS/105280348/Fireworks-legalized-Pyramid-Lake?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CLocal%20News%7Cs