HPD and Prosecutors Discuss Challenges in Enforcing Fireworks Laws

Honolulu: So, there was this really tragic fireworks explosion in Aliamanu on New Year’s Day that left four people dead. It’s been a big deal around here. City and state officials are now thinking about tougher laws to deal with illegal fireworks. They want to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.

Governor Josh Green just gave his State of the State address and mentioned that they might start handing out $300 fines for illegal fireworks, kind of like speeding tickets. If someone gets hurt or killed because of illegal fireworks, they could face felony charges. They’re also working on new bills to make selling illegal fireworks a serious crime, with hefty fines and prison time.

But here’s the kicker: even with new laws, the Honolulu Police Department is struggling to enforce them. They just don’t have enough officers to keep an eye on everything. It’s tough when there are so many people using illegal fireworks, and the police can’t be everywhere at once.

During a recent meeting, HPD’s Acting Assistant Chief Brian Lynch talked about how they’re trying to catch people selling fireworks. They’ve had some success, but it’s not easy. Sometimes they even have to call in a bomb squad if they find something dangerous. It’s a real challenge, especially with so many illegal fireworks around.

Lynch compared their situation to a boat with holes in it. They’re trying to bail out water, but it keeps coming in. He said they need to stop the illegal fireworks from getting into the community in the first place. It’s all about tackling the problem at its source.

HPD Maj. Mike Lambert also chimed in, saying that the community is frustrated because they see illegal fireworks everywhere, but the police can’t seem to do much about it. The laws are complicated, and it’s hard to build a solid case against offenders. Even if they catch someone, it’s tough to prove where the fireworks came from.

There’s also been some talk about using drones to spot illegal fireworks, but a Supreme Court ruling made that tricky. So, they’re stuck with the laws they have, which aren’t working as well as they should.

The city council is looking into this too. They want to make it easier for police to enforce the laws. If they can define what illegal fireworks are more clearly, it might help officers do their jobs better.

In the meantime, the investigation into the deadly explosion is ongoing, and they’re hoping to find a way to prosecute anyone responsible. It’s a tough situation, but everyone’s working hard to make things safer for the community.