fireworks near Austin TX (China: buy, legal, transportation)

[relocatetoxxxx]

Are there any places where I can buy fireworks at this time of the year ?

[DMChicago]

China.

[unihills]

They will be available for New Year's, Google says they start selling Dec. 20th. All stands are outside Austin city limits.

[CptnRn]

it is also illegal to bring them into the city limits. The fire marshal has set up sting operations to fine people caught doing that in the past.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

it is also illegal to bring them into the city limits. The fire marshal has set up sting operations to fine people caught doing that in the past.

They used to wait in clearly marked police cars just inside the city limits, but right down the street from the fireworks stands. They would watch you buy FWs, get in your car, drive into town, then pull you over and issue a ticket - while also confiscating the FWs. Iirc, it wasn't the fire marshal, it was APD.

They got told that is a 'no-no', mainly because they were not doing it to all the stands, just a few. I think they do still have some version of that 'sting' operation (one that impacts many of the stands, just not all day like they used to), so just be aware.

[CptnRn]

I'm sure the Fire Department made the request.

https://www.austintexas.gov/fireworkspermit

Fireworks Permit

Fireworks are illegal to possess or use in the City of Austin unless a permit has been issued for a professional display. These permits are issued by the Emergency Prevention Division only if several requirements are met. There is a $50 permit fee, as well as mandatory stand-by fees for AFD personnel.

https://austintexas.gov/faq/are-any-...without-permit

Are any fireworks legal in the City of Austin without a permit?

The U.S. Department of Transportation does not classify the following items listed as common fireworks, and their use is allowed within the City of Austin:

• Snake, GlowWorms – Pressed pellet of pyrotechnic composition that produces a large, snakelike ash upon burning. The ash expands in length as the pellet burns. These devices may not contain mercuric thiocyanate.
• Smoke Device – Tube or sphere containing pyrotechnic composition that, upon ignition, produces white or colored smoke as the primary effect.
• Wire Sparkler – Wire coated with phyrotechnic composition that produces a shower of sparks upon ignition. These items may not contain magnesium and must not exceed 100g of composition per item. Devices containing any chlorate or perchlorate salts may not exceed 5g of composition per item.
• Trick Noisemaker – Item produces a small report intended to surprise the user. These devices include:
  • Party Popper – Small plastic or paper item containing not more than 16mg of explosive composition that is friction-sensitive. A string protruding from the device is pulled to ignite it, expelling paper streams and producing a small report.
  • Booby Trap – Small tube with string protruding from both ends, similar to a party popper in design. The ends of the string are pulled to ignite the friction-sensitive composition, producing a small report.
  • Snapper – Small, paper-wrapped item containing a minute quantity of explosive composition coated on small bits of sand. When dropped, the device explodes, producing a small report.
  • Trick Match – Kitchen or book match that has been coated with a small quantity of explosive or phrotechnic composition. Upon ignition of the match, a small report or a shower of sparks is produced.
  • Cigarette Load – Small wooden peg that has been coated with a small quantity of explosive or pyrotechnic composition. Upon ignition of the match, a small report or a shower of sparks is produced.
  • Auto Burglar Alarm – A tube which contains pyrotechnic composition that produces a loud whistle and/or smoke when ignited. A small quantity of explosive, not exceeding 50mg, also may be used to produce a small report. A squib is used to ignite the device.