His fireworks crusade goes to state level

By DEMORRIS A. LEE
Published October 1, 2007

In 2003, Pinellas County Commissioner Kenneth Welch convinced fellow county commissioners to effectively ban the sale of rockets and firecrackers. Now he is a member of a new Consumer Fireworks Task Force.
	[Joseph Garnett, Jr. | Times]

It's technically illegal in Florida to buy fireworks that shoot into the air or explode, but for years buyers and sellers have ignored the law with a wink.

By signing a waiver saying they will use the explosives for business purposes such as scaring birds away from crops or fish farms, consumers can buy a lot of bang for their buck.

In 2003, County Commissioner Kenneth Welch convinced fellow Pinellas County commissioners to effectively ban the sale of rockets and firecrackers. Now retailers need a permit to sell fireworks and consumers must get a permit from the Sheriff's Office before buying them.

Now Welch is a member of a new Consumer Fireworks Task Force appointed by House Speaker Marco Rubio. The Times spoke with him last week while he was in Tallahassee for the first meeting of the task force:

Why did you lead the charge on fireworks in Pinellas?

Back in 2001, we had some firework issues in our neighborhood with a couple of enthusiasts launching rockets that landed on homes, in yards and cars. I talked with the Council of Neighborhood Associations and found a problem in a lot of neighborhoods.

What really got me going was when I found out that most of those fireworks were already illegal under state law and the sellers were exploiting a loophole in state law. The Pinellas County ordinance closed that loophole.

As a member of this statewide task force, what would you like to see happen regarding the sale of fireworks in the state?

There needs to be a balance between public safety and individual rights. We need a law that is enforceable and that is applicable statewide.

There is already a ban, but it's not enforced. If it flies or explodes, it's illegal for nonprofessional use in the state of Florida. That leaves sparklers.

This task force has already received letters from around the state about pets being frightened, cars being damaged and it's because of the irresponsible use of fireworks.

Does anyone ever give you any grief about the role you've played on this issue?

I had one of the fireworks companies' employees come up to me and say I cost them $1-million. I said if you weren't violating the law, it wouldn't cost you $1-million.

Some argued that the ban would be the end of the Fourth of July in Pinellas County. Have you noticed a decline in patriotism around the county as a result of the ban?

Absolutely not. No decline in patriotism. It hasn't affected public displays, the cities of Clearwater, St. Petersburg. We encourage folks to go to those public displays.

It's not about patriotism but respecting your neighbor's property and safety. Patriotism to me means respecting the laws of our country.

Have you noticed a decline in fireworks exploding during that weekend?

Initially, the first year or so, we did. ... As the enthusiasts found out you can drive to Pasco and Hillsborough and buy, there was an increase ... but we also saw other counties like Manatee, Palm Beach enact their own laws.

What fireworks did you set off as a kid?

Sparklers - and I burned my hand. I remember that. And we didn't launch them. It comes back to responsibility and following the golden rule.

What have you told your own children about fireworks?

We used to go to public displays, but we stopped going because so many people are out there launching their own fireworks. We now watch it on TV and I pick the fireworks out of my yard on the morning of July 5.

Demorris A. Lee can be reached at demoalee@sptimes.com or 445-4174.

[Last modified September 30, 2007, 20:33:47]