Fireworks:
Fireworks cannot be set off except between June 24 through July 6 and December 24 through January 3.
Even during those times, there are restriction about setting off fireworks. Individuals cannot set off fireworks on any public property.
Fireworks that can be used within the restrictions are:
- Ground and handheld sparkling devices
- Cylindrical fountains
- Cone fountains
- Illuminating torches
- Wheels
- Ground spinners
- Flitter sparklers
- Toy smoke devices
- Wire sparklers or dipped sticks
- Multiple tube ground and handheld sparkling devices, cylindrical fountains, cone fountains and illuminating torches
These types of fireworks can never be used: Any firework intended to rise into the air and explode or to detonate in the air or to fly above the ground, including firecrackers, bottle rockets, sky rockets, missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, torpedoes, roman candles, mine devices, shell devices and aerial shell kits or reloadable tubes.
Sale of fireworks – Fireworks cannot be sold to a person under 18 years old.
Sec. 14-51. - Fireworks prohibited; exceptions.
(a) The use, discharge or ignition of fireworks within the City is prohibited except for permissible consumer fireworks which shall be allowed June 24 through July 6 and December 24 through January 3 each year. At no time shall the use of consumer fireworks be authorized on city property, including parks, preserves, buildings and facilities, except as authorized under subsection (b) herein. (b) Nothing in this section or article shall be construed to prohibit the use of novelty items or the occurrence of a supervised public display of fireworks authorized by City permit.
(Ord. No. 2010.38, 10-21-10; Ord. No. O2014.53, 10-2-14)
Sec. 14-52. - Sale of fireworks.
(a) No person shall sell or permit or authorize the sale of permissible consumer fireworks to a person who is under sixteen (16) years of age. (b) No person shall sell or permit or authorize the sale of permissible consumer fireworks in conflict with state law or this Code. (c) No person shall sell or authorize the sale of permissible consumer fireworks, except from May 20 through July 6 and from December 10 through January 3 of each year.
(Ord. No. 2010.38, 10-21-10; Ord. No. O2014.53, 10-2-14)
Sec. 14-55. - Penalty.
A person violating any prohibition or requirement imposed by this article is subject to a civil penalty of one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00), unless another penalty is specifically provided for.
(Ord. No. 2010.38, 10-21-10; Ord. No. O2014.53, 10-2-14)
Sec. 14-56. - Liability for emergency responses related to use of fireworks.
(a) A person who uses, discharges or ignites permissible consumer fireworks on any days other than from June 24 through July 6 and from December 24 through January 3, other fireworks or anything that is designed or intended to rise into the air and explode or to detonate in the air or to fly above the ground, is liable for the expenses of any emergency response that is required by such use, discharge or ignition. The fact that a person is convicted or found responsible for a violation of this article is prima facie evidence of liability under this section. (b) The expenses of an emergency response are a charge against the person liable for those expenses pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The charge constitutes a debt of that person and may be collected proportionately by the public agencies, or other first responders that incurred the expenses. The liability imposed under this section is in addition to and not in limitation of any other liability that may be imposed.
(Ord. No. 2010.38, 10-21-10; Ord. No. O2014.53, 10-2-14)
Curfew:
Age 15 or younger: 10 P.M. to 5:00 A.M. everyday, including weekends; Age 16-17: Midnight to 5:00 A.M. everyday, including weekends; Violating this law is a misdemeanor, and the penalties include a maximum fine of $2,500.00 or imprisonment for up to six (6) months, or both.
Sec. 22-8. - Curfew for juveniles; responsibility of parents or guardians.
(b) Offenses.
(1) It is unlawful for any minor under the age of sixteen (16) years to be in, about, or upon any place in the City away from the property where the youth resides between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day.
(2) It is unlawful for any minor sixteen (16) years of age or older and under the age of eighteen (18) years, to be in, about, or upon any place in the City away from the property where the child resides between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
(3) It is unlawful for a parent or guardian of a minor to knowingly permit, or by insufficient control, allow a minor to violate section (b)(1) or section (b)(2) as listed above.
(4) It is unlawful for a parent, guardian or other person having the care, custody or supervision of the minor to fail or refuse to take custody of the minor after such demand is made upon him by a law enforcement officer who arrests the minor for violation of section (b)(1) or (b)(2) as listed above.
(c) Defenses/Exceptions.
It is a defense to prosecution under subsection (b), including (b)(3) of this section that the minor was:
(1) Accompanied by the minor's parent or guardian.
(2) With prior permission of the parent or guardian, in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel.
(3) With prior permission of the parent or guardian, in an employment activity or going to or returning home from an employment activity without any detour or stop by the most direct route.
(4) Involved in an emergency.
(5) With prior permission of the parent or guardian, was engaged in reasonable, legitimate, and specific business and/or activity. Examples include, but are not limited to, a juvenile with prior permission of the parent or guardian, attending an official school, religious or other recreational activity supervised by adults who take responsibility for the minor, or going to or returning home from an official school, religious or other recreational activity supervised by adults who take responsibility for the minor.
(6) With prior permission of the parent or guardian, engaged in a reasonable and legitimate exercise of First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution.
(7) Married and sixteen (16) years of age or over, or in the military.
(8) On the sidewalk abutting their residence or on the next door neighbor's property with the consent of the neighbor.
Cell Phones and Driving:
It is illegal to hold and use your cell phone while driving unless your vehicle is parked or stopped at a red light or railroad crossing.
Sec. 19-55. - Unlawful use of a mobile electronic device.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle while holding a mobile electronic device, typing on or otherwise manually operating a mobile electronic device unless the vehicle is parked or stopped pursuant to A.R.S. § 28-645.a.3 or § 28-851.
Laws may have changed since the last time this article was updated. The current and most up-to-date laws can be accessed here.
