Wright was especially incensed that a burned-up bottle rocket landed in his yard. And, no, the talk-show host wasn't requesting Roman candles. KSL radio personality Doug Wright recently directed a couple of questions to Utahns who skedaddle over to Wyoming to buy fireworks. Not only is possessing illegal fireworks a Class C misdemeanor, but users must pay all damage or clean-up costs if an accident or fire occurs.Īnd with tinder-box conditions in Utah, Bergin said it is too dangerous to be projecting professional-type fireworks hundreds of feet in the air - or erratically toward a field, houses or people. If possession weren't outlawed, after all, then why not just sell them in Utah or over the Internet? "What they do is detrimental to other people's livelihoods."īut Bergin says Wyoming store owners are just hoping to skirt the state's law to up sales. "They basically make a mockery of businesses and government here," Porter added. Now it's gotten to the point they'll zap anyone with Utah plates who has a six-pack or a bag of fireworks." "It bugs our business people," Allmaras said. Their biggest beef is with Utah's zero-tolerance alcohol law. He and other business owners are considering filing a class-action lawsuit against the state.
Jerry Porter, co-owner of Porter's Fireworks and Liquor, even informs customers that, according to federal law "CFR-49," UHP troopers cannot ticket them or seize their big-time sparklers because, he says, "Possession is not the issue, use is." Porter claims Utah officials are "stalking" his customers. We don't need a task force."Īnd what about those who are good at hiding or lying? "Let's just say it's not difficult to catch them. One good sign, he noted, is when a group of teenage guys each have differing stories of why they were in Wyoming. "This firework stuff is just our troopers being diligent, watching for signs," Bergin said. Troopers can't just search vehicles or stop them for suspicion of fireworks. They then give possession citations or confiscate if the trooper spots packages or if an interrogation elicits a confession.
Skedaddle firework drivers#
Not so, says Bergin, claiming the UHP only stops I-80 drivers for regular traffic violations.
Skedaddle firework crack#
Some are convinced Utah has a task force that sets up sting operations in which law-enforcement spies case out parking lots and then crack down on Utahns when they zoom past the state border with their illegal booty. Opinions differ on cat-and-mouse methods the UHP uses to obtain Wyoming fireworks. It's also illegal to bring alcohol into Utah from Wyoming. "It's stacked with 14 cases and a couple of kegs." "I've got a whole room of fireworks just confiscated last weekend," said UHP Lt. It could have a different fireworks sign: Bought by Utahns, Snatched by UHP Troopers. This combustible cache is in the Utah Highway Patrol evidence room at the Jordanelle Fire Station. And the parking lot here has a Utah-licensed vehicle that actually is a fire engine. The difference: These fireworks eventually will be soaked and smashed up instead of soaring and sizzling. Similar to Evanston's firework shops, a building near Park City has a stockpile of about every other type of pyrotechnic produced, too. Some come to buy sparklers, snakes and smoke bombs because they're cheaper than at local stands in Sandy or Springville. Most flock here the week before Independence Day to load up on explosive material that's illegal in Utah. "It's a tradition," said Ryan Hansen, 21, who's been coming from Sandy with buddy, Geoff Raives, 20, for several years. One small Utah truck ironically sported a license-plate holder proclaiming, "My other car is a fire engine." On Tuesday, for instance, every Evanston fireworks store was visited by Utahns of all age ranges, from senior citizens to toddlers, who crossed state lines in vehicles of every type, from sports cars to minivans. An estimated 80 percent of all fireworks sold here are purchased by Beehive State residents. We welcome people to come visit our town." Mitch Allmaras, an Evanston police officer. They're also loaded with customers who drive eastbound on I-80 to get there.Ī fireworks sign here could say: Made in China, Sold in Wyoming, Bought by Utah. Stores like Porter's, Phantom and Jolly Jacs are stacked from floor to ceiling with a colorful array of artillery shells, bottle rockets, firecrackers and about every other type of pyrotechnic that will soar, smoke, sparkle and sizzle when ignited. Lila offered well-wishes to her successor when she left Operation Horizon.EVANSTON, Wyo. Squeeze all you want, you're never fitting that tank on an icebreaker. Odds were never in our favor, what with the ice floes and the navigational interference and the utter lack of logistical support.
Figured I'd leave you this and skedaddle.
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