The following is a press release from King County:
With consumer fireworks now prohibited in the unincorporated King County, officials are working to establish a complaint-based process that addresses violators and wants to hear from the public.
Residents can submit their comments on the proposed ordinance through April 10. The amendments include:
• Classifying violations as “civil violations” rather than criminal. It also specifies that a violation of a “reckless manner which creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person or damage to the property of another” is classified as a gross misdemeanor.
• Requiring a public complaint be filed with the Permitting Division of King County Local Services to trigger enforcement of fireworks violations and imposition of civil penalties. Complaints must:
– Include enough information for the violation to be actionable.
– Be specific to violations occurring on properties in unincorporated King County.
– Be tracked by the department for reporting purposes.
• Establishing the procedures for issuing warnings and citations for violations, specifically that:
– A warning will be issued for the first complaint against the person, and a citation will be issued for the second complaint.
– Warnings/citations can be revoked or modified by the director if there is an error.
– The director’s decision on contested warnings/citations is appealable to the hearing examiner.
– Warnings/citations must tracked by the department for reporting purposes.
To read a draft of the Proposed Fireworks Enforcement Ordinance, as well as a plain language summary of the proposed changes, visit Permitting’s Legislation for public review and comment page.
SUBMIT A COMMENT
Comments may be submitted via the following methods:
• Postal mail: Robin Proebsting, King County Permitting Division, 35030 SE Douglas St. Suite 210, Snoqualmie, WA 98065-9266
• Voicemail: 206-263-3000
• E-mail: permittinglegislation@kingcounty.gov
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