The following is a press release from King County:

With consumer fireworks now prohibited in the unincorporated King County, officials are working to establish a complaint-based process that addresses violators and wants to hear from the public.

Residents can submit their comments on the proposed ordinance through April 10. The amendments include:

• Classifying violations as “civil violations” rather than criminal. It also specifies that a violation of a “reckless manner which creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person or damage to the property of another” is classified as a gross misdemeanor.

• Requiring a public complaint be filed with the Permitting Division of King County Local Services to trigger enforcement of fireworks violations and imposition of civil penalties. Complaints must:

– Include enough information for the violation to be actionable.

– Be specific to violations occurring on properties in unincorporated King County.

– Be tracked by the department for reporting purposes.

• Establishing the procedures for issuing warnings and citations for violations, specifically that:

– A warning will be issued for the first complaint against the person, and a citation will be issued for the second complaint.

– Warnings/citations can be revoked or modified by the director if there is an error.

– The director’s decision on contested warnings/citations is appealable to the hearing examiner.

– Warnings/citations must tracked by the department for reporting purposes.

To read a draft of the Proposed Fireworks Enforcement Ordinance, as well as a plain language summary of the proposed changes, visit Permitting’s Legislation for public review and comment page.

SUBMIT A COMMENT

Comments may be submitted via the following methods:

• Postal mail: Robin Proebsting, King County Permitting Division, 35030 SE Douglas St. Suite 210, Snoqualmie, WA 98065-9266

• Voicemail: 206-263-3000

• E-mail: permittinglegislation@kingcounty.gov