Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Almost everyone who has a Fourth of July celebration finds some way to incorporate the long-standing tradition of shooting and watching fireworks. Fortunately, most people do so in a safe and legal manner, but that is not always case. Because fireworks, though entertaining, have a capacity to be extremely dangerous many counties and cities in Tennessee regulate firework use or ban them altogether. Tennessee law allows municipalities and counties to make their own fireworks ordinances or adopt the ordinances set forth in Title 68 of the Tennessee Code. For an overview of how some Tennessee cities and counties have chosen to treat fireworks see this list from WBIR.com. If you want more details as to how the city or county in which you plan to use fireworks regulates them, you will probably have to contact local law enforcement officials.

As fun as fireworks seem, misuse of fireworks can and does lead to criminal charges in some cases. First, unauthorized use of fireworks in an area where it has been prohibited can be charged as a Class C misdemeanor under Tennessee law, for which the defendant will face up to thirty days in jail in extreme cases. Second, and more importantly, some pranks and seemingly harmless games can turn serious in a hurry if fireworks malfunction or explode near someone and injures or even kills them. In these types of instances, the person who was misusing the fireworks can be looking at more serious criminal charges, including reckless endangerment or assault depending on the circumstances. These offenses threaten the defendant with the prospect of a year or more in jail for what may have been a momentary lapse in judgment. Persons who find themselves faced with the prospect of serious jail time based on a firework-related accident should contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can assist the defendant in avoiding jail time if possible and achieving a fair resolution to his or her case.