Brampton’s new fireworks ban nabs thousands in fines on New Year’s Eve
Published January 9, 2023 at 9:13 am
Brampton bylaw officers started the new year off with a bang, issuing thousands of dollars in tickets on New Year’s Eve under the City’s new fireworks ban.
The City made changes to the fireworks bylaw in November, banning the use, sale, and purchase of fireworks or explosives within the City limits, following a record number of complaints about personal-use fireworks during Diwali celebrations.
The new bylaw has set fines for discharging fireworks to a minimum of $500, and the city says it received 25 fireworks complaints during New Year’s celebrations and issued at least five tickets.
A spokesperson for the city said there were 25 calls for fireworks complaints during New Year’s Eve celebrations this year, a slight drop from the 28 complaints received the previous year.
The City confirmed that at least one other fireworks fine had been issued under the new ban before New Year’s Eve.
RELATED: What to know about Brampton’s fireworks ban
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The city said there were more than 1,500 fireworks complaints in all of 2022, with over 1,000 of those calls coming during Diwali celebrations in October.
Bylaw enforcement handed out more than $38,000 in fireworks fines last year, and Brampton Fire and Emergency Services responded to 20 fires related to fireworks that cost taxpayers approximately $20,000.
Discharging fireworks in Brampton is a minimum $500 fine while selling fireworks comes with a $1,000 ticket. Only the film industry and the City are allowed to get fireworks permits, under the new rules.
The bylaw changes will see City staff work with local partners to develop a City-run Diwali event, similar to the City’s New Year’s Eve and Canada Day pyrotechnics displays, to give Brampton residents a central location to celebrate the annual festival of lights.
For more information on Brampton’s fireworks bylaw visit www.Brampton.ca.
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