A Word from the SMPD on July 4th: “There are almost no fireworks that are lawful to discharge in a county park or anywhere else in the City of South Milwaukee.”

From the South Milwaukee Police Department …

The City of South Milwaukee Police Department will have extra officers in Grant Park during the July 4th celebration. The officers will adopt a zero tolerance policy for persons discharging any type or size firework while in the park. There will be no warnings. If you discharge fireworks in the park, you will be cited, and the fireworks will be confiscated. The fine/forfeiture for fireworks violation in the park is $313.00. The fine for fireworks violations outside of the park is $187.00.

The purpose of the enforcement is not to write more tickets, but to discourage the hazardous situations that are created when untrained citizens bring fireworks that launch flaming and exploding projectiles into the park. These fireworks are then ignited and launched from sections of lawn packed with citizens almost shoulder to shoulder. The persons lighting the fireworks have no idea where they will fly or when they will explode. The sizes of the fireworks coming into the park are getting bigger and more dangerous every year. In recent years blankets of uninvolved persons have been burned by flaming debris and a rocket landed and exploded in an unoccupied baby stroller. There are almost no fireworks that are lawful to discharge in a county park or anywhere else in the City of South Milwaukee.

The South Milwaukee Police Department encourages citizens to come to the park, enjoy the fireworks display provided by the City, and use their own fireworks at another time, when it is safe and lawful to do so. The Department would also like to encourage people to drink responsibly, and not to drink and drive.