Gentry allows certain fireworks

GENTRY — With the July 4 holiday and fireworks on sale in the area, police remind residents of city law regarding the possession and use of fireworks within Gentry.

In general, city ordinance permits the use of fireworks from the hours of 8 a.m. to midnight on July 4 — fireworks may not be ignited on any other days. No airborne fireworks are allowed at any time within the city. Any trash from fireworks is to be picked up immediately. And if a burn ban is in place, all fireworks are prohibited.

Gentry City Code regarding fireworks includes Ord. No. 03-516, Sec. 1., which says “Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store, offer for sale, sell at retail, set off, ignite or otherwise explode any firecrackers or other fireworks by whatever name called within the city limits; provided that the use of fireworks for public display shall be exempt from the restrictions herein upon the certification of the Fire Chief that the display does not pose a fire danger or would [not] be disruptive of the public peace and tranquility.”

Ordinance 03-516, Sec. 2 says “Permissible items of fireworks, defined in A.C.A. 20-22-708, may be sold at retail from June 20 through July 10 of each year. Any seller of such fireworks shall first obtain a privilege license from the City of Gentry.”

Ordinance 03-516, Sec. 3 says “Roman candles, rockets, helicopter-type rockets, bottle rockets or other airborne fireworks of any nature shall not be discharged within the city limits. Other non-airborne fireworks may be discharged on private property within the city limits of the City of Gentry between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight on the July 4.”

Ordinance 03-516, Sec. 4 says “The discharge of such fireworks shall not occur in the event a burn ban is in effect in Benton County on the July 4. Nor shall such fireworks be discharged upon any street, road, alley, parking lot or other public property; within any park nor within six hundred (600) feet of any church, public school or establishment at which gasoline is sold; nor within two hundred (200) feet of where fireworks are stored, sold or offered for sale.”

And Ordinance 03-516, Sec. 5 says “No person shall ignite or discharge any permissible articles of fireworks within, or throw the fireworks from a motor vehicle while therein, nor shall any person place or throw any ignited article of fireworks into or at a motor vehicle or at or near any person or group of people.”