#Illegal Fireworks Task Force

Senate Public Safety Committee pushes forward public protection bills

“These bills address some of the most urgent challenges we’re facing right now in our state,” said Elefante. “We’ve made real progress by passing key legislation on public health, safety in correctional facilities, funding for law enforcement, cracking down on illegal fireworks, improving fire prevention, and supporting our Department of Defense.” 

Two sentenced, another charged in crackdown on illegal fireworks

The Department of the Attorney General successfully prosecuted two men for selling illegal aerial fireworks in the community prior to the new year, following law enforcement sting operations to identify and arrest distributors of illegal fireworks. Wolfgang Clark pled no contest this week and was granted a deferred plea to two counts of felony fireworks […]

Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee highlights fireworks bills

Through these legislative efforts, lawmakers aim to reduce the dangers posed by illegal fireworks and hold accountable those responsible for illegal activity.  

Fireworks task force bill passes out of committee; now headed for final reading

The Hawaiʻi Senate Ways and Means Committee passed Senate Bill 222, which would fund an illegal fireworks task force. Although the amount of funding is not specified, the measure is now headed for third reading on the Senate floor before crossing over to the House of Representatives.

Senate panel passes bill to fund illegal fireworks task force

The Hawaiʻi Senate Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs has recommended passage of Senate Bill 222, which would appropriate an as yet undetermined amount of state funding for an illegal fireworks task force.

Lawmakers consider using drones against illegal aerial fireworks

Video recordings made by unmanned airborne drones could be used to establish probable cause for law enforcement arrests in illegal fireworks cases under a bill introduced by 19 members of the state House of Representatives.

Department of Law Enforcement Illegal Fireworks Task Force details recent enforcement actions

Task Force officers confiscated approximately 200 pounds of illegal fireworks from a home in Waipahu on Tuesday. On Wednesday, DLE launched SaferWatch, a web and mobile-based security system that allows the public to anonymously report illegal fireworks in the community. Over the Independence Day holiday, 59 illegal fireworks tips were submitted to DLE using the new app.

Fireworks control: State lawmakers aim to strengthen crackdown on illegal pyrotechnics

A bill to help Hawaiʻi law enforcement officers crack down on illegal fireworks has made its way to the desk of Gov. Josh Green.

Hawaiʻi Fireworks Task Force seizes 24 tons of fireworks in Honolulu

“The Illegal Fireworks Task Force is comprehensively examining the entire fireworks environment in Hawaiʻi, including both legitimate industry and the black market,” said DLE smith Deputy Director Jared Redulla.

Task Force confiscates 17.5 tons of illegal fireworks in third large seizure in two weeks

This is the third shipping container within the last two weeks discovered during routine tariff inspections to have contained illegal fireworks. To date, the task force has seized nearly 105,000 pounds of illegal fireworks since its inception about five months ago.

17 more tons of illegal fireworks seized, bringing total confiscation to 70,000 pounds

The Illegal Fireworks Task Force seized approximately 17 tons (34,000 pounds) of illegal fireworks on Wednesday from a shipping container that falsely declared its contents as other items.

500 pounds of illegal, unwanted fireworks turned in during Fireworks Amnesty event

Since its inception in July, the Illegal Fireworks Task Force has seized over 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks. This includes 515 pounds of illegal and unwanted fireworks that were turned in over the weekend.

Hawaiʻi legislature passes bill establishing Illegal Fireworks Task Force

Given the abundance of illegal fireworks and explosives that infiltrate Hawaiʻi each year, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Donovan Dela Cruz introduced legislation to address what he calls a “pervasive problem.”