2022 -- H 7197

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LC003850

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Biah, Morales, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: January 26, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 11-13-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-13 entitled "Explosives

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and Fireworks" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     11-13-1. Sale, use or possession of fireworks.

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     (a) No person shall offer for sale at retail or at wholesale, shall possess or have under his

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or her control, use or explode, or cause to explode for exhibition or amusement, display fireworks

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or aerial consumer fireworks unless permits are obtained pursuant to this chapter and chapter 23-

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28.11. Display fireworks are defined in the American pyrotechnic association standard 87-1 (APA

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87-1) 2001 Edition section 2.7.2 and are classified as explosives 1.3G by the U.S. department of

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transportation (U.S. DOT), UN0335. Aerial consumer fireworks are defined in APA 87-1 2001

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Edition section 3.1.2. and are classified 1.4G U.S. DOT, UN 0336. Certain fireworks and devices

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that are exempt from the definitions of display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks shall

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include, but are not limited to, the following: ground-based and hand-held sparkling devices (non-

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aerial fireworks) as defined in APA 87-1 2001 Edition sections 3.1.1 and 3.5, and include the

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following: fountains, illuminating torches, wheels, ground spinners, flitter sparklers, sparkers;

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novelties, which are defined in the APA 87-1 2001 Edition section 3.2 and include the following:

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party poppers, snappers, toy smoke devices, snakes, glow worms, wire sparklers and dipped sticks;

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paper caps containing not more than twenty-five hundredths (0.025) grains of explosive mixture

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ammunition to be consumed by weapons used for sporting and hunting purposes, and model rockets

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and model rocket engines, designed, sold and used for the purpose of propelling recoverable aero

 

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models). The storage, possession, sale, transportation and use of the items in the above reference

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section that are not included in the definition of display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks

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shall be allowed at all times throughout the state for persons at least sixteen (16) years of age,

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limited to the exclusive period of one week prior to and including the 4th day in July, and may only

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be used, exploded, or caused to be exploded between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. during this specified period.

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Permits for display fireworks and aerial consumer fireworks for commercial display may be issued

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in accordance with provisions of the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, chapters 28.1 -- 28.39 of title

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23. Fireworks display of display and aerial consumer fireworks by any municipality, fair

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association, amusement park, or other organization or group of individuals is permitted, on

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condition that the display shall be made by a competent operator approved by the local fire authority

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and shall be of such character as in the opinion of the fire authority will not be hazardous to persons

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or property; and, provided further, that the foregoing shall not apply the use of display and aerial

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consumer fireworks by common carriers for signal or illumination purposes, the use of blank

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cartridges in any show or theater, the use of explosives for blasting, the use of display and aerial

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consumer fireworks as signals in any athletic or sporting event, the use of display and aerial

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consumer fireworks for ceremonial or military purposes, the sale of fireworks for shipment out of

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this state, or the sale of fireworks for any use permitted pursuant to this section, provided the person

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who sells, stores or transports display and aerial consumer fireworks has a permit as required by

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the Rhode Island Fire Safety Code, chapters 28.1 -- 28.39 of title 23.

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     (b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a felony and shall

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be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense and/or imprisoned for not

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more than one year for each offense; except that any person using or having in his or her possession

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without a permit with intent to use display and aerial consumer fireworks with a value of under five

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hundred dollars ($500) shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be fined not

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exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense and/or imprisoned for not more than one

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year for each offense.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS

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     This act would limit the sale of fireworks to one week prior to and including the 4th day in

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July, and may only be used, exploded, or cause to be exploded between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. during

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that time period.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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