WATSONVILLE — Police and fire officials in Watsonville and Santa Cruz are warning that Fourth of July revelers who celebrate with illegal fireworks are risking serious fines.
Safe and sane fireworks — those that do not leave the ground or explode — are allowed in Watsonville and Capitola on July 4 only.
Still, Watsonville Fire Chief Pablo Barreto suggested an even safer alternative.
“We’re inviting everyone to come to the airport for the Fire in the Sky celebration,” he said, referring to a fireworks show and open house.
Sales of safe and sane fireworks have become a Watsonville tradition, with several nonprofit organizations setting up booths across the city as a fundraiser.
These include 24 fireworks sales booths that are now open. Each of these are run by nonprofit organizations such as Watsonville Charter School of the Arts, United Pentecostal Church, Pajaro Valley High Athletics, Freedom Rotary and the Pajaro Valley Children’s Center.
Scofflaws who possess and use illegal fireworks face a $1,000 fine per item, Barreto said
Safe and sane fireworks can be bought and used within Watsonville city limits, but transportation outside of the city limits is prohibited.
The City of Watsonville will be increasing staffing and adding patrol officers to areas of the city with the highest amount of gunshot and firework activity.
On the prowl for lawbreakers will be the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, California State Parks rangers, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and local fire agencies.
The City of Santa Cruz, meanwhile, will create its traditional Safety Enhancement Zone from July 4 to 5.
The safety enhancement designation includes tripling the fines for violations such as the illegal discharge of fireworks, littering and public consumption of alcohol.
Triple fine violations also include possession of fireworks, possession of open containers of alcohol, graffiti and urinating in public.
All fireworks, including safe and sane ones, are illegal in the City of Santa Cruz.
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Fireworks booths inWatsonville
• American Legion Post #121 — 1954 Freedom Blvd.
• Santa Cruz County Tritons — 1424 Freedom Blvd.
• Moreland Notre Dame — 634 Main St.
• Pajaro Lodge #110 — 1075 Main St.
• Pajaro Valley Children’s Center — 1459 Freedom Blvd.
• Pajaro Valley Girl’s Softball — 444 Airport Blvd.
• Pajaro Valley High School Athletics — 601 Main St.
• Pajaro Valley Wrestling — 2014 Freedom Blvd.
• Pajaro Valley Youth Soccer — 1125 South Green Valley
• United Pentecostal Church — 1820 Freedom Blvd.
• Victory Outreach Watsonville 2 — 1702 Freedom Blvd.
• Victory Outreach Watsonville 1 — 707 Freedom Blvd.
• Watsonville Buddhist Temple — 423 Bridge St.
• Watsonville Charter School of the Arts — 2010 Freedom Blvd.
• Watsonville H.S Soccer — 600 Main St.
• Watsonville H.S. Football/Cheer — 1116 Main St.
• Watsonville High School Wrestling — 377 Hushbeck Ave.
• Watsonville High Track Club — 20 Ohlone Parkway
• Pajaro Valley National Little League — 1051 South Green Valley Road
• Watsonville Police Activity League — 355 South Green Valley Road
• Watsonville Tae Kwon Do — 978 East Lake Ave.
• Watsonville Elks Lodge #1300 — 121 Martinelli St.
• Westview Presbyterian Church — 118 First St.
• Freedom Rotary Club — 1966 Main St.
