If it snaps, pops, sparkles or smokes, it's illegal

With the July 4th weekend on the horizon, Carson City officials want to remind residents fireworks are illegal in Northern Nevada.

"We're getting reports of shots fired everywhere and coming up with fireworks. Deputies are finding remnants of them," said Sheriff Ken Furlong. "I look at our countryside, with the temperatures going up, my concern is that someone playing with fireworks is going to set a fire that can engulf a home very, very quickly."

Fire Chief Stacey Giomi said fireworks are illegal to possess and use in every county in Northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin.

"It's a misdemeanor to own, have or light off fireworks, sparklers, firecrackers, cherry bombs, Roman candles or any of them," he said.

Giomi said people can be fined up to $1,000 for possession or use, and if someone is found to have caused a fire with fireworks, they also will be responsible for the cost of extinguishing it.

"In the area you can always guarantee one or two significant fires are caused by fireworks every year," he said.

A legal fireworks display is scheduled at Mills Park on Sunday at dusk. The RSVP Carnival opens there today and runs through Sunday night. For a list of area fireworks shows, see page A8.

In Virginia City, the Fourth of July Parade down C Street at noon will precede the fireworks show at dusk. And "Lights on the Lake," Lake Tahoe South Shore's fireworks start around 9:45 p.m.

There will also be a number of DUI checkpoints in place throughout the weekend.

A multi-agency DUI checkpoint, with officers from the Nevada Highway Patrol, Carson City, Sparks and Washoe County, will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday on State Route 28 by the Ponderosa Ranch, said Trooper Chuck Allen.

"With the anticipated increase of vehicular traffic, the highway patrol wants to increase the awareness of enforcement in advance of the holiday," Allen said. "We want people to have fun, but if people are going to operate motor vehicles, whether it be cars, boats, jet skis or anything else, they should refrain from drinking alcohol."

A DUI/driver's license checkpoint will also be conducted on Lake Tahoe Boulevard from 8:30 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday.