Moorestown Police: Fireworks are Illegal and Dangerous

Moorestown Police reminds residents that the sale and possession of fireworks is illegal and dangerous a week ahead of the Fourth of July.

Police included exact wording for the statute in a Nixle.com message on Monday:

New Jersey Statutes, Title: 21, EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS

Chapter 3: Sale, use, etc., declared against public health, safety and welfare

Section: 21:3-2: Sale, possession or use prohibited; exceptions

21:3-2. It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell, possess or use, or explode any blank cartridge, toy pistol, toy cannon, toy cane or toy gun in which explosives are used; the type of balloon which requires fire underneath to propel the same; firecrackers; torpedoes; skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs, sparklers or other fireworks of like construction, or any fireworks containing any explosive or inflammable compound or any tablets or other device commonly used and sold as fireworks containing nitrates, chlorates, oxalates, sulphides of lead, barium, antimony, arsenic, mercury, nitroglycerine, phosphorus or any compound containing any of the same or other explosives, or any substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, other than aviation and railroad signal light flares, except (a) that it shall be lawful for any person to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell, possess or use, or explode any toy pistol, toy cane, toy gun, or other device in which paper or plastic caps containing .25 grain or less of explosive compound per cap are used, providing they are so constructed that the hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for use, and toy pistol paper or plastic caps which contain less than .20 grain of explosive mixture per cap and (b) as in this chapter further provided.

Except as otherwise may be provided in this chapter, it shall be lawful to sell fireworks to a person only if that person is named as the authorized purchaser in a valid permit issued pursuant to R.S.21:3-3 or that person is the owner, manager, or designated employee acting as the agent of the owner or manager, of a legally operated commercial enterprise registered pursuant to section 10 of P.L.1991, c.55 (C.21:2-37), and the permit is presented to the manufacturer, seller or distributor at the time of purchase. If the manufacturer, seller or distributor is located in a state other than this State, a purchase shall be by mail order form and a photocopy of the valid permit or registration shall be submitted with the form to satisfy the requirement in this paragraph.

Amended 1962, c.82; 1970, c.220; 1991,c.55,s.4.




The sale or possession with the intent to sell fireworks is a fourth degree crime carrying up to 18 months in jail.

Mere possession of fireworks is a petty disorderly persons offense which can result in up to 30 days in jail and fines up to $500.