Abbeville Police issue citations for fireworks

Ignorance never serves as an excuse for not following the law.
Several residents igniting fireworks in the city limits found that out Friday after receiving citations from the Abbeville Police Department.
Using fireworks in the city limits is an ordinance violation.
“I believe we issued around seven citations,” Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy said.
Officers offered warnings prior to issuing those citations. Those who received the citations will have to got to city court to pay the fines.
“They were popping fireworks like crazy,” Hardy said. “That was really just on the Fourth of July night.”
Officers responded to complaints called in to the station.
“We responded to all of them,” Hardy said.
The process does create some frustration.
“It can become a pain,” Hardy said. “Officers are busy with other things and you have to work these calls in between.”
There are firework stands located in what appears to be the city limits. Those businesses are actually on property that is not incorporated by Abbeville, so people are not purchasing the fireworks in the city.
The next holiday that brings out fireworks is New Year’s Eve. That remains a few months away. Hardy asked that residents become more educated on the subject before that time.
“Ignorance is surely not an excuse,” Hardy said. “When we go on these calls, people always say that they didn’t know it was against the law in the city.
“Really? It has only been against the city ordinance for the last 35 years.”