Lang
7/5/20
If you called in a fireworks compliant to law enforcement Saturday night or early Sunday morning, you weren’t alone.
A check of online records shows Iowa City Police received 109 calls between 5:30pm Saturday and 4am Sunday. The latest logged call in Iowa City was 3:46am at the Quarters on Highway 6 East. The city’s activity log shows no charges were filed in any of the incidents, but numerous verbal warnings were given. The minimum fine for lighting fireworks in Iowa City city limits is $250.
Countywide, the Johnson County Joint Emergency Communications Center received 229 fireworks complaints between 5pm Saturday to 4am Sunday.
Coralville had 45 of those calls, with the final call coming from Boston Way at 1:11am.
North Liberty saw 40 calls in the same timespan, with the latest coming at 3:35am on Linden Lane. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office had 32 complaints, with the final one coming in at 12:33am from Black Diamond Road in Windham. University Heights Police had only six complaints, with the last one coming at 11pm on George Street.
University of Iowa Police received no fireworks complaints on campus.
Fireworks calls skyrocketed nationwide in recent days. Experts cite the fact that many municipal fireworks events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa City and Cedar Rapids canceled their city fireworks, while Coralville and Hills held slightly altered events.