Want to shoot off your own fireworks at Grant Park on July 4? Expect to pay $290.
That’s the message from the South Milwaukee Police Department, which is stepping up enforcement at the park and will not issue warnings if it finds someone setting off fireworks.
See the press release here, which also contains this reminder: “There are almost no fireworks that are lawful to discharge in a county park or anywhere else in the City of South Milwaukee.”
Find the city ordinance on fireworks here (page 36). Here is the state law.
South Milwaukee Blog 
So what do we do if we have several neighbors that shoot them off… every year. They never seem to get fined. We have been already putting up with three saturday nights of fireworks. Tonight they got close to my trees and with this drought like weather I am very concerned. I want my anonymonity protected as I have to see them.
How about the rest of the city? Are we FINALLY going to get some enforcement on the ordinances outside the park…unlike all the other years?
I agree with “SM Guy”. While nobody is expecting this to be a higher priority than an emergency, it would be nice if the police could at least do a drive-by as part of their regular patrol when they are called (assuming something more urgent is not taking place). Seldom do people set off just one firework. With the extremely dry conditions this year, nobody wants a “Patrick Cudahy” type incident as a result.
I contacted the chief, who suggested a phone call to the police’s non-emergency line (768-8060) to report fireworks violations. They will respond, investigate and enforce.
Unfortunately, that seems to be the usual answer regarding city regulations. (I don’t mean you specifically, Erik). In fact, I seem to remember a year or two ago the city passed some regulation regarding something like keeping an RV in your yard. They specifically said they would only enforce the law if there was a complaint. As Chris H said, it would be nice if the police would start enforcing various regulations during their normal patrols without needing a call. In this case, they can even target their patrols by listening or watching they sky.
Good question. I’ll find out.
everyone on here so up tight when you were younger did you not let fireworks off? or want to see your kids with their first sparklers or ones that let off colors, give it up and quit worrying about something so harmless and get a better life
Feel free to lobby your local and state elected officials to get the laws changed. Until then, let’s enforce the laws that were validly passed. By the way, I did not shoot fireworks up over my neighbors’ house and have my “stuff” land in their yard. Back then, we knew what property rights were and respected our neighbors’ properties.