[Woodbridge] – Mayor John E. McCormac today announced that the Woodbridge Police Department’s (WPD) crackdown on illegal fireworks throughout the extended July 4 holiday resulted in 20 individuals charged with sale and/or possession/use of illegal fireworks.  The WPD stepped-up neighborhood patrols from Wed., July 1 through Sun., July 5 and responded to more than 280 complaints in an unprecedented crackdown on the use of illegal fireworks that jeopardized public safety and Quality-of-Life.

The sale, possession and use of prohibited fireworks (including firecrackers, roman candles, M80’s, cherry bombs, salutes and ground-to-air fireworks) is a Fourth Degree crime if the person sells, offers or exposes for sale, or possesses with intent to sell, any firework(s) and is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to 18 months in jail. Possession of destructive devices is a Third Degree crime with fines of up to $10,000 and incarceration of up to three to five years in jail. Additionally, a person is guilty of a petty disorderly person’s offense (a fine of up to $500.00 and/or a jail term of up to 30 days) if he or she purchases, uses, discharges, causes to be discharged, ignites, fires or otherwise sets in action, or possesses fireworks without having the required permit.

The following individuals were issued complaint/summonses charging Sale and/or Possession of Illegal Fireworks (N.J.S.A. 21:3-2):

• Naveed A. Chaudry, 38, Lafayette Avenue, Fords – Sale and Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Alexander J. Raposo, 22, Koyen Street, Fords – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Jorge I. Barreto, 31, Crows Mill Road, Fords – Possession of Illegal Fireworks – Aerial Display;
• Dilpag S. Sandhu, 35, Warwick Street, Iselin – Possession of Illegal Fireworks – Aerial Display;
• Mudasir Jamile, 26, Colonia – Possession of Illegal Fireworks – Aerial Display;
• Omar Rivera, 40, Pershing Avenue, Iselin – Possession of Illegal Fireworks – Aerial Display;
• Daniel G. Dever, 34, Maryknoll Road, Metuchen – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Lorne C. Panek, 41, Beech Street, Fords – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Cesar M. Rey, 22, Crows Mill Road, Fords – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Erick Y. Lozano, 38, Tudor Lane, Lawrenceville – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Jose E. Jimenez, 62, Egan Avenue, Fords – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Ruben Irizarry, Jr., 30, Hommann Avenue, Perth Amboy – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Jupalkuma R. Patel, Holly Road, Parlin – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Rosalia Pelaez, 32, Middlesex/Essex Tpk., Iselin – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Reabra G. Mondato, 36, Liberty Street, Fords – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Jessie C. Giles, 19, Daniel Street, Port Reading – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Elionext Castro, 46, Mcinley Avenue, Carteret – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Antonio Torres, 44, Camelot Drive, Port Reading – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Miguel A. Ordonez, 42, Carsen Avenue, Perth Amboy – Possession of Illegal Fireworks;
• Chaten V. Singn, 19, Trieste Street, Iselin – Possession of Illegal Fireworks.

Recent changes to the New Jersey Explosives and Fireworks Act (N.J.S.A. 21:2-1 et seq., as amended by P.L.2017, C.92) permit persons 16 years-of-age or older to lawfully buy, possess and use certain sparkling devices and novelties sold only in registered retail locations.  Permissible fireworks legally allowed to be sold in New Jersey are limited to hand-held or ground-based sparklers, snakes and glow worms, smoke devices and trick noisemakers, including party poppers, snappers and drop pops.

A 2018 report issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission noted that 67% of all fireworks injuries were sustained during the 30-day period surrounding the Independence Day holiday; that 5,600 injuries occurred nationwide due to fireworks, most often with burns to the hands and head, including to the eyes, face, and ears and 36% of the injuries reported occurred to kids under the age of 15.  The majority of fireworks injury reports involve emergency room treatment and release, but the more severe and fatal injuries were associated with the consumer’s use of professional grade and homemade fireworks.