Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- The long July 4th weekend is almost here, and it brings with it a couple of timely questions about fireworks.
First, fireworks for sale: despite the law, unless you're a professional pyrotechnic display company, they are illegal in New York State to sell or to have.
But that doesn't stop out of state dealer ads and websites from pitching them. You can legally purchase fireworks in Pennsylvania. If you are not a Pennsylvania resident, there's a loophole in keystone state law, which allows the sale to out of staters, even though fireworks are also illegal to possess within Pennsylvania.
Strange, but true. That makes local law enforcement all the more important. Last year, Syracuse police made a major bust and seized a large quantity of fireworks. They’re illegal, and dangerous unless handled by the pros...
Which brings us to Lisa Barletta's question. She e-mailed us wondering what happened to the annual, professional fireworks display at Shoppingtown in DeWitt? We talked to Macerich, the company that owns Shoppingtown, and a spokesperson says they decided last year that there were plenty of other, large-scale fireworks shows around Central New York and that the money they were spending on the Shoppingtown display would be better spent on non-profits and charities that could really use it...and that's where that money is going now.
If you've got a question or a story to share, call the Your Stories line at 446-9900, or e-mail: yourstories@9wsyr.com
