City police were kept busy handling fireworks calls over the last four days and are reminding people to adhere to the rules the next time fireworks are allowed.
There were 64 calls in response to fireworks infractions were made from July 1 to July 4 in the city this past Canada Day weekend.
The City of Barrie recently instituted new regulations for use of fireworks.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday the majority of the calls came in when the pyrotechnics were not allowed.
“We received 17 calls on Canada Day itself, and another 47 calls from July 2 to midnight last night,” said Leon. “The bylaw clearly states that with regards to the Canada Day long weekend, fireworks are permissible only on July 1.”
City council gave final approval at its June 14 council meeting to amend the regulatory bylaw to shorten the number of days fireworks can be set off in Barrie near holidays.
Where it used to be five days before a holiday, instead of five days before a holiday, fireworks can now only be set off on the actual day.
The only days in the city that fireworks are allowed are Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year and Diwali, unless otherwise authorized to do so.
Leon said police took an “educational approach” with the calls and most displays were already done by the time police responded.
“This is a new adjustment to the bylaw and so we responded by trying to educate people on the rules,” he said. “In most cases, upon our arrival, the clean-up was complete where fireworks were being set off and folks were finished.”
