Santa Clara County homeowners will now be held accountable when fireworks are discharged on their property, according to a new ordinance approved Tuesday by supervisors.
Officials said homeowners will initially receive a warning if they are not in compliance with the ordinance, which also went into effect on Tuesday. Homeowners may be slapped with a fine starting at $350 if fireworks continue to be used on their property.
"My hope is it does stem the tide of illegal fireworks use in the county," said John Justice, deputy fire chief for Santa Clara County Fire Department.
San Jose's city council is also considering a plan to allow park rangers, community service officers and code enforcement staff to issue citations to people using illegal fireworks.
"We can have CSOS and rangers issue a ticket like a parking ticket," Mayor Sam Liccardo said. "That way it will be a swift deterrent because our officers can just do it -- we already know they are stretched."
The goal of the city's plan is to respond quickly to neighbors reporting fireworks going off near their home.
"These fireworks are not like the ones we used as kids," San Jose City Councilwoman Rose Herrera said. "They are large explosive devices, they are potentially deadly."
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City leaders hope the crackdown will entice more people to avoid setting off any fireworks this year.
