Laws you should know before you set off fireworks

ATLANTA — Firework sales have been steady in Georgia, but there are some rules you need to know before you set them off.

Those who choose to set off fireworks can do so until midnight on the Fourth of July.

After midnight, fireworks must stop, according to the law.

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"It's nice if people are out in a commercial area and there are parking lots and stuff like that," a neighbor told Channel 2's Dave Huddleston. "But when it's your own home, having people do it out of their backyards, and you have little ones, it's a little bit of a nuisance."

Joe Martinez and Kari told Huddleston that people can celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, but should not shoot them off past 10 p.m.

Georgians have just recently been allowed to purchase fireworks and can light them in designated areas after the passage of the 2015 fireworks law, which was amended in 2016 to reflect the following hours:

• New Year's Eve: Fireworks can go until 1 a.m.
• Fourth of July: Fireworks can go until midnight

Any other day, fireworks can be lit until 9 p.m., but not after that time.

The Facebook page for the city of Milton shows complaints posted by a number of people who said that the sound of firecrackers is scaring their pets.

One person wrote that they were still awake, late at night, with their dogs because of their inconsiderate neighbors on Freemanville Road.

In Alpharetta, people were selling signs that said "fireworks scare horses to death" and a sign showing Uncle Sam that said "I want you -- to be considerate using fireworks."

Huddleston said that according to House Bill 110, the county and municipalities can't stop people who choose to set off fireworks.

Neighbors can just hope those people will consider them before doing so.

Cox Media Group