Increased Patrols, Warnings for July 4
During the upcoming July 4th holiday, the Garden Grove Police and Fire Departments are raising the public’s awareness to safety and increased police and fire presence. Additional police patrols will be identifying violators of the City’s municipal code on fireworks. Using or possessing illegal fireworks, including misusing or tampering with legal ones, carries a $1,000 administrative fine.
In accordance with Garden Grove Municipal Code firework regulations, discharge of safe and sane fireworks is permissible on private property only.
Police patrols will again focus on high-activity illegal fireworks areas including Katella Street, between Euclid and Brookhurst; Dino Circle; Garden Grove Park; and the Buena-Clinton neighborhood.
All city parks will close by 5:00 p.m. on July 4. Park tennis courts, basketball courts, and softball fields will also be locked by 5:00 p.m. Park sprinkler systems will be activated at 6:00 p.m.
Last year, the police department issued 47, $1,000 administrative citations, up four citations from 2015. The highest number of $1,000 citations, 126, were written in 2007, the first year that the $1,000 administrative citation was put into place.
Garden Grove firework sales take place from July 1 through July 4. Hours are: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., July 1 through 3; and 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on July 4.
Effective immediately, individuals who videotape a person(s) violating the City's municipal code on fireworks, by lighting illegal fireworks, can contact the Garden Grove Police Department to have a $1,000 administrative fine issued to the violator(s). Along with the video, individuals must sign a Declaration of Evidentiary Intent form; retain/maintain the video evidence; agree to appear in all potential administrative appeal hearings and court proceedings; and assume any liability and/or damage arising from the issuance of the administrative citation for the events not occurring in the officer's presence. For any questions regarding this process, please call (714) 741-5704 and ask for the Watch Commander on duty.
For more information on fireworks use, please call the Garden Grove Fireworks Hotline at (714) 741-5270, or visit the City of Garden Grove or Garden Grove Fire Department or Garden Grove Police Department Facebook pages. For July 4 safety tips, including July 4 safeguards for your pets, visit the Garden Grove Fire Department webpage.
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