Don’t Shoot! The Capital Can Fine Firework Enthusiasts €350 0 10

Time is Money

When the upcoming New Year’s fireworks were discussed, the police chief took the floor and promised that residential areas would be monitored using drones, thus identifying violators. Although, generally, they rely on the law-abiding nature of the population...

The mandatory rules of the Riga City Council, titled "On the Restriction of the Time of Use of Firework Devices and Stage Pyrotechnic Products on the Administrative Territory of the Self-Government of the State City of Riga," introduce a ban on the use of these devices and products:

• From June 1 to August 31 — from 11 PM to 7 AM;
• From September 1 to May 31 — from 10 PM to 7 AM.

Exceptions are made for New Year’s Day, January 1 — fireworks can be shot off from midnight to 1 AM.

"The goal is to ensure peace and safety," states the accompanying material from the self-government. "This will protect the health and well-being of residents, the rights of children, ensure the tranquility of animals, and maintain public order." "The self-government regularly receives complaints from residents about violations of nighttime silence due to noise..."

At the same time, it is acknowledged that the "European cultural space," to which our Riga belongs, warmly welcomes New Year’s fireworks — well, there’s an hour allocated for them. Violators face a fine of up to €350.

Concerns About a Deputy’s Dog

It turned out that the ranks of firework enthusiasts in the city council were quite broad — a good dozen deputies took to the podium. Mainly, opposition representatives argued for the necessity of an earlier end to the fireworks, driven by the desire to put children to bed earlier (although how they will fall asleep if the shooting continues for several hours past midnight!); also, the chance for representatives from various Eastern countries, such as Turkey, to celebrate the New Year according to their time zones.

In response, the chairman of the Committee on Security, Order, and Corruption Prevention, Girts Lapins (National Alliance), stated that he personally is against all fireworks altogether — his dog gets scared. It would be better to replace them with beautiful laser shows.

But if someone can’t wait to shoot off fireworks, it should be done strictly at the onset of the New Year according to Latvian time, without false starts. Otherwise, one could start right in the daytime if counting by Pacific Time.