Posted: 4/26/2014 5:22:23 PM EDT
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So last year was my first 4th of July since moving to VA. My brother in law was visiting that weekend and last minute we ran over to one of those fireworks tents in Winchester to grab some aerial artillery. Well that's when we found out VA isn't as free as I thought it was. The guy told us nothing that goes higher then 6ft. off the ground is legal here. It was already 5:30pm and we had to get back for dinner, so no time to go to WV and we just got one of those assortment packs so the kids could see something.
So this year I was wanting to get the good stuff ahead of time. My question is, how strict are cops around Stephens City in regards to fireworks? In NYC they would usually just take them and throw them in their trunk without even giving a ticket. |
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Welcome to the Old Dominion.
I have been in the same spot in the densely populated People's Republic of Northern Virginia for ten years. The fourth of July sounds like Ramadi or Fallujah in the neighborhood. One block over opposite sides of a cul-de-sac run a dueling fireworks contest that rivals the show downtown. If the cops show up, it's just to see a good show. We put on our own minor league display with no interference. Mostly what everyone else has already said about the common sense aspects related to the recreational use of pyrotechnics. Good luck, have fun. |
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Yeah, I'm tucked all the way back in a subdivision, and down a curved street that is a culdesac, so I'm not too worried. Any suggestions on where to buy them in WV? I looked online and I think Mountaineer is closest to me. Mountaineer unless you go to Maryland (Wholesale place in Maryland, a few hour longer drive) |
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Only time I've had cops show up was in Arlington.
Funny thing was we had already shot everything off and were sitting in the back yard when the cops showed up. Someone had called with the specific address, as the cops were trying to get us to admit to setting off fireworks the neighbors behind started lighting off bottle rockets. Must have been them officer. |
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Only time I've had cops show up was in Arlington. Funny thing was we had already shot everything off and were sitting in the back yard when the cops showed up. Someone had called with the specific address, as the cops were trying to get us to admit to setting off fireworks the neighbors behind started lighting off bottle rockets. Must have been them officer. Great story, I love it. |
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Worth mentioning that law enforcement on interstate 70 is stepped from time to time. http://www.fireworks.com/ Phantom of Breezewood / Baltimore / DC Warfordsburg, PA 12761 Buck Valley Road Phone: 717-294-6770 Hours: 9am - 9pm, 7 days a week I know *NOTHING* about this place along I-70 on the way to our place in PA.... 
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Had the cops visit in Stephens City one fourth of July night. Heard it on the scanner before they got there. We told them nothing. 99.9999999% probability it's because your neighbors narced on you, and the cops had to go. Sometimes people get very confused when they open the door and I tell them "hi, I'm trying to look very stern and scolding, but I'm just putting on a show for whichever of your nosy neighbors called. Enjoy doing what you're doing, and if you could wait to resume it after I leave I'd appreciate it. Have a good one!" |
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99.9999999% probability it's because your neighbors narced on you, and the cops had to go. Sometimes people get very confused when they open the door and I tell them "hi, I'm trying to look very stern and scolding, but I'm just putting on a show for whichever of your nosy neighbors called. Enjoy doing what you're doing, and if you could wait to resume it after I leave I'd appreciate it. Have a good one!" Quoted:
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Had the cops visit in Stephens City one fourth of July night. Heard it on the scanner before they got there. We told them nothing. 99.9999999% probability it's because your neighbors narced on you, and the cops had to go. Sometimes people get very confused when they open the door and I tell them "hi, I'm trying to look very stern and scolding, but I'm just putting on a show for whichever of your nosy neighbors called. Enjoy doing what you're doing, and if you could wait to resume it after I leave I'd appreciate it. Have a good one!" 
This is so full of win.. |
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This is so full of win.. Quoted:
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Had the cops visit in Stephens City one fourth of July night. Heard it on the scanner before they got there. We told them nothing. 99.9999999% probability it's because your neighbors narced on you, and the cops had to go. Sometimes people get very confused when they open the door and I tell them "hi, I'm trying to look very stern and scolding, but I'm just putting on a show for whichever of your nosy neighbors called. Enjoy doing what you're doing, and if you could wait to resume it after I leave I'd appreciate it. Have a good one!"
This is so full of win.. Those are the ones where we can't actually come up with a good reason for telling the person who called they're an idiot. My favorites are barking dog calls, calls where kids are playing basketball in a cul-de-sac, and calls where someone says (and this happens often) "there's a white/black/Hispanic/Asian guy walking down the sidewalk and he looks suspicious because there aren't any of them in this neighborhood" |
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Those are the ones where we can't actually come up with a good reason for telling the person who called they're an idiot. My favorites are barking dog calls, calls where kids are playing basketball in a cul-de-sac, and calls where someone says (and this happens often) "there's a white/black/Hispanic/Asian guy walking down the sidewalk and he looks suspicious because there aren't any of them in this neighborhood" Quoted:
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Had the cops visit in Stephens City one fourth of July night. Heard it on the scanner before they got there. We told them nothing. 99.9999999% probability it's because your neighbors narced on you, and the cops had to go. Sometimes people get very confused when they open the door and I tell them "hi, I'm trying to look very stern and scolding, but I'm just putting on a show for whichever of your nosy neighbors called. Enjoy doing what you're doing, and if you could wait to resume it after I leave I'd appreciate it. Have a good one!"
This is so full of win.. Those are the ones where we can't actually come up with a good reason for telling the person who called they're an idiot. My favorites are barking dog calls, calls where kids are playing basketball in a cul-de-sac, and calls where someone says (and this happens often) "there's a white/black/Hispanic/Asian guy walking down the sidewalk and he looks suspicious because there aren't any of them in this neighborhood" I'm beginning to like you more. 
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I'm beginning to like you more. Quoted:
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Had the cops visit in Stephens City one fourth of July night. Heard it on the scanner before they got there. We told them nothing. 99.9999999% probability it's because your neighbors narced on you, and the cops had to go. Sometimes people get very confused when they open the door and I tell them "hi, I'm trying to look very stern and scolding, but I'm just putting on a show for whichever of your nosy neighbors called. Enjoy doing what you're doing, and if you could wait to resume it after I leave I'd appreciate it. Have a good one!"
This is so full of win.. Those are the ones where we can't actually come up with a good reason for telling the person who called they're an idiot. My favorites are barking dog calls, calls where kids are playing basketball in a cul-de-sac, and calls where someone says (and this happens often) "there's a white/black/Hispanic/Asian guy walking down the sidewalk and he looks suspicious because there aren't any of them in this neighborhood" I'm beginning to like you more. I got a complaint after dealing with the same person complaining of barking dog over and over, I told them 'if you don't like living 50 feet from your neighbor and hearing their dog bark, move out into the country'. |
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I'm beginning to like you more. Quoted:
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Had the cops visit in Stephens City one fourth of July night. Heard it on the scanner before they got there. We told them nothing. 99.9999999% probability it's because your neighbors narced on you, and the cops had to go. Sometimes people get very confused when they open the door and I tell them "hi, I'm trying to look very stern and scolding, but I'm just putting on a show for whichever of your nosy neighbors called. Enjoy doing what you're doing, and if you could wait to resume it after I leave I'd appreciate it. Have a good one!"
This is so full of win.. Those are the ones where we can't actually come up with a good reason for telling the person who called they're an idiot. My favorites are barking dog calls, calls where kids are playing basketball in a cul-de-sac, and calls where someone says (and this happens often) "there's a white/black/Hispanic/Asian guy walking down the sidewalk and he looks suspicious because there aren't any of them in this neighborhood" I'm beginning to like you more. My goal when I go to work is have 100% smiley happy interactions with every citizen I serve. Unfortunately I don't get to do that. I like to think of myself more as a Peace Officer than a Police Officer. |
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I got a complaint after dealing with the same person complaining of barking dog over and over, I told them 'if you don't like living 50 feet from your neighbor and hearing their dog bark, move out into the country'. Sometimes telling people the truth gets you in trouble. |
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Sometimes telling people the truth gets you in trouble. Quoted:
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I got a complaint after dealing with the same person complaining of barking dog over and over, I told them 'if you don't like living 50 feet from your neighbor and hearing their dog bark, move out into the country'. Sometimes telling people the truth gets you in trouble. Ain't that the truth! "Did you sleep through the part of driving school where the instructor was talking?" = complaint (18yo that thought that "traction control" meant the car would NEVER lose grip, even in a hurricane level downpour at 45mph around a hairpin curve that's a suggested 25mph) "Racist? Heck no, I don't like people with eyebrows!" = complaint "So you're gonna pull a dent out of your bumper by tying a tow strap to a utility telephone in front of your house, parking the car in your neighbors yard and spinning tires till one of them comes out in your Toyota?" "Well yeah!" "God forbid I get in the way of Darwin then." = complaint (cuz I took the lords name) Soooooooo many more... Sarcasm is lost on people sometimes... |
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I know *NOTHING* about this place along I-70 on the way to our place in PA.... It's about 5 miles from my oldest daughter place, she knows 75% of the folks working there.
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Worth mentioning that law enforcement on interstate 70 is stepped from time to time. http://www.fireworks.com/ Phantom of Breezewood / Baltimore / DC Warfordsburg, PA 12761 Buck Valley Road Phone: 717-294-6770 Hours: 9am - 9pm, 7 days a week I know *NOTHING* about this place along I-70 on the way to our place in PA.... It's about 5 miles from my oldest daughter place, she knows 75% of the folks working there.
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Ain't that the truth! "Did you sleep through the part of driving school where the instructor was talking?" = complaint (18yo that thought that "traction control" meant the car would NEVER lose grip, even in a hurricane level downpour at 45mph around a hairpin curve that's a suggested 25mph) "Racist? Heck no, I don't like people with eyebrows!" = complaint "So you're gonna pull a dent out of your bumper by tying a tow strap to a utility telephone in front of your house, parking the car in your neighbors yard and spinning tires till one of them comes out in your Toyota?" "Well yeah!" "God forbid I get in the way of Darwin then." = complaint (cuz I took the lords name) Soooooooo many more... Sarcasm is lost on people sometimes... Quoted:
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I got a complaint after dealing with the same person complaining of barking dog over and over, I told them 'if you don't like living 50 feet from your neighbor and hearing their dog bark, move out into the country'. Sometimes telling people the truth gets you in trouble. Ain't that the truth! "Did you sleep through the part of driving school where the instructor was talking?" = complaint (18yo that thought that "traction control" meant the car would NEVER lose grip, even in a hurricane level downpour at 45mph around a hairpin curve that's a suggested 25mph) "Racist? Heck no, I don't like people with eyebrows!" = complaint "So you're gonna pull a dent out of your bumper by tying a tow strap to a utility telephone in front of your house, parking the car in your neighbors yard and spinning tires till one of them comes out in your Toyota?" "Well yeah!" "God forbid I get in the way of Darwin then." = complaint (cuz I took the lords name) Soooooooo many more... Sarcasm is lost on people sometimes... 
This may or may not have been the cause for a few complaints over my years. |
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My experience has always been as long as you're not being a dumbass you're good to go. Just make sure you're not launching anything over people's houses, or fields if it has been incredibly dry. Perfect advice! BTW come to the fireworks show at the Clarke Ruritan, as good as FC, but less people & happier (more sober) crowd. |
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http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0059/1872/products/f-bomb-final_1_large.png?v=1368727991 This may or may not have been the cause for a few complaints over my years. Quoted:
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I got a complaint after dealing with the same person complaining of barking dog over and over, I told them 'if you don't like living 50 feet from your neighbor and hearing their dog bark, move out into the country'. Sometimes telling people the truth gets you in trouble. Ain't that the truth! "Did you sleep through the part of driving school where the instructor was talking?" = complaint (18yo that thought that "traction control" meant the car would NEVER lose grip, even in a hurricane level downpour at 45mph around a hairpin curve that's a suggested 25mph) "Racist? Heck no, I don't like people with eyebrows!" = complaint "So you're gonna pull a dent out of your bumper by tying a tow strap to a utility telephone in front of your house, parking the car in your neighbors yard and spinning tires till one of them comes out in your Toyota?" "Well yeah!" "God forbid I get in the way of Darwin then." = complaint (cuz I took the lords name) Soooooooo many more... Sarcasm is lost on people sometimes... http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0059/1872/products/f-bomb-final_1_large.png?v=1368727991 This may or may not have been the cause for a few complaints over my years. Yeah... |
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The laws are rather restrictive as to what is allowed for official sale in MD, DC and VA.
Despite that, the MD police in MoCo and PG run sting operations targeting MD residents who buy fireworks in DC or VA. Every year the local news advertises this fact. The MD police will post an informant at a DC retailer, and when the person crosses back into MD, they are pulled over, fireworks confiscated from the trunk, and the buyer cited. MD really hates fireworks. VA seems to take a more "common sense" approach. |
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That is the way it is with most differences between the 2 states. Quoted:
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MD really hates fireworks. VA seems to take a more "common sense" approach. That is the way it is with most differences between the 2 states. I have a firm belief that Maryland will outlaw fun in the next few years. |
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Joe Dirt: So you're gonna tell me that you don't have no black cats, no Roman Candles, or screaming mimis?
Kicking Wing: No. Joe Dirt: Oh come on, man. You got no lady fingers, fuzz buttles, snicker bombs, church burners, finger blasters, gut busters, zippity do das, or crap flappers? Kicking Wing: No, I don't. Joe Dirt: You're gonna stand there, ownin' a fireworks stand, and tell me you don't have no whistlin' bungholes, no spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don'ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistlin' kitty chaser? Kicking Wing: No... because snakes and sparklers are the only ones I like. Joe Dirt: Well that might be your problem, it's not what you like, it's the consumer. |
Like everyone else has been saying as long as you arent stupid they cops dont bother you much. Im in Norfolk and one year we had a hell of a fireworks haul from Jabs just over the NC/SC line. The whole intersection was filled with blown up fire crackers. We lit a 10,000 roll and watched from my friends porch, a cop came driving down the street and just ran over it and kept going, while it was blowing up.
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MD has become to the place for Snakes and Sparklers. Not to be outdone, arrestafield (chesterfield county) has outlawed everything including sparklers. http://rvanews.com/z_legacy/seasonal/fireworks-laws-lowdown/29123 |