State lawmakers seek compromise on fireworks bill

ATLANTA - State lawmakers are close to passing a law that would rein in the hours during which Georgians can shoot off fireworks.

"Oh! I got hundreds of emails, phone calls, texts," recalled State Representative Paul Battles from Cartersville.

Battles was one of several legislators who drafted bills to help better control the times based on feedback from his constituents.

"The neighbors in the community were calling the police," said Vincent Watkins, who reported people lighting fireworks in his Fayette County neighborhood in the wee hours of July 5.  

"Local ordinances and local government had absolutely no say in this at all. So, it was quite disturbing," he said.

The bill lawmakers continue to debate would restrict fireworks usage to the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. most days of the year.  Those hours would be extended to 11:59 p.m. on July 3 and 4.  People would be allowed to use fireworks until 1:00 a.m. on January 1.

Under the legislation, local governments would also have some control to restrict fireworks through noise ordinances, and would be allowed to give special permission for people to shoot off fireworks up until midnight throughout the year.

"I think that's wonderful and I think a lot of people and their pets are going to enjoy this," said Watkins.

The legislation, however, may see some hiccups.  Members of the senate disagree with a house version of the bill, which would allow retailers to set up temporary structures like tents from which to sell their products. They have both safety and economic development concerns about that idea.

"The local control is the most important part of it, and if we can just work through those little sales location issues and type of structures, then I think we can come up with a bill that will be good for all of Georgia," said Rep. Battles.

Lawmakers have until midnight March 24 to reach a deal.