After failed council effort, fireworks ban remains
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An effort to legalize backyard fireworks in Davidson County in time for the Fourth of July holiday failed in the Metro Council.
Between the lines: Selling and setting off fireworks is banned in Davidson County without a city permit. Metro Councilmember Dave Rosenberg sought to allow fireworks to be used by adults under certain conditions from noon to 10:30pm on July 4.
- Rosenberg's legislation failed with just 13 votes in support at the June 6 meeting.
Why it matters: Since we all hear repeated fireworks explosions in our neighborhoods each year, we know it's a relatively soft ban.
- Rosenberg sought to codify the way people are already behaving by regulating the use while continuing the ban on fireworks sales.
What he's saying: "The reality is the large fireworks-shooting community either doesn't know it's illegal or doesn't care it's illegal," Rosenberg said at the meeting. "We have this law on the books, but we don't enforce it. As a result, it's a free-for-all."
How it works: A Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson tells Axios over email, "As you can imagine, we can't respond to every firework that is set off in Davidson County."
- People should call the non-emergency number (615-862-8600) regarding large-scale fireworks endangering neighborhoods or causing a sustained nuisance, spokesperson Kristin Mumford says.
- "We will do our best to respond to complaints about fireworks along with the other calls on what is generally a very busy day/night," Mumford says.