Stiff fines should be imposed for setting off bottle rockets

Published on Sunday, July 13, 2008 10:49 PM MST

Editor:

I recall July 4, 1984. I, in my central Phoenix home, and a few friends shot off bottle rockets. One shot out, up, then down quickly into the space between a neighbor’s fence and his tool shed, immediately catching fire to the built-up dried grass in the narrow space.

Luckily, we had a garden hose that could reach before the shed caught, and we left only scorched grass and chain-link as evidence of our stupidity. So we quit and just observed as scores of neighborhood bottle rockets were launched, landing on residential rooftops all around us, including our own, while still burning.

That was the last time I ever left my home unattended on July 4 or New Year’s Eve in all these years.

Bottle rockets are completely uncontrollable, often screw-tailing in any direction but the one they were aimed in, fully capable of turning right around and hitting the people who lit the fuse.

I don’t know the current fines and penalties associated with their use, but stiff fines and jail time seem appropriate to me when inconsiderate users potentially burn someone’s home to the ground and threaten the lives of people and their pets.

Norm Johnson

Safford

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1 comment(s)

Jason wrote on Jul 14, 2008 3:05 PM:

" Ya well we will start next year. Operation City Council Crackdown. "

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