The Bethlehem Police Department would like to clarify what fireworks are legal, and which are not. Due to recent changes by the legislature the New York State Penal Law now allows for the sale and use of a specific category of consumer fireworks known as Sparkling Devices.
Sparkling Devices are ground based or handheld devices that produce a shower of colored sparks and or a colored flame, audible crackling or whistling noise and smoke. The law limits the type, size and construction of Sparkling Devices and requires that these devices must be hand held or mounted on a base or spike and be limited in sizes that range from 1 to 500 grams of pyrotechnic composition.
What kind of fireworks are legal?
- Sparkling fountains (cylindrical and cone)
- Sparklers on wooden sticks, but not metal
- Smoking devices
- Snakes
- Confetti-filled party poppers
- Paper-wrapped snappers
What kind of fireworks are not legal?
Bottle rockets and other fireworks that fly, such as-
- Firecrackers
- Bottle rockets
- Roman candles
- Spinners
- Other aerial devices
Further details on fireworks can be found at the following link: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc/news/sparklingdevices.cfm