Fireworks becoming a nuisance in utica

The Utica Police Department said they received over 50 complaint calls regarding illegal fireworks.

Viewers in Utica reported seeing and hearing dozens of displays across the area.

About fireworks over the weekend.

Police say they could be heard and seen throughout utica.

News channel 2's brent kearney is live with more.

Brent!

Jason i spoke to utica police today and they're saying they prefer people buy and use the legal fireworks all while being courteous to neighbors.

Nats joe speciale owns speciale fireworks in utica.

His family has been in the fireworks business for around 70 years.

Joe says the legal fireworks business is booming.

.

None .

None "we've actually seen business busier than normal over the first couple of weeks.

Our business is up great, its huge.

I have heard about the complaints, its tough to police that right now, for years nys was illegal for fireworks yet they were still being done."

To the annoyance of many neighbors in utica, the number of illegal fireworks here in the city of utica is on the rise.

And its keeping the utica police department very busy.

"over the course of the weekend we had over 50 complaints of fireworks calls.

Most of the complaints happen after about 10 pm and i think that's the issue.

It's not so much the use of the fireworks it's that it's annoying to both the neighbors public and the pets."

This picture near blandina street shows the aftermath of one of the many illegal displays taking place over the weekend.

Speciale says the legal fireworks he sells could be less of a nuisance.

"its not an aerial repeater that has between 20 to 50 shots and you know making noises above peoples houses and in their backyards so i think people get more annoyed with that."

He also says his products are safer.

"you know where the fireworks are going to end up.

Once something goes aerial the wind could take it.

It could land on somebody's roof.

It could tip over and once it tips over its going to continue to fire.those shots could go through somebody's window into somebody's house."

> police are asking that if you do plan on using fireworks this week, to be respectful to your neighbors around you.

If your caught with illegal fireworks, its a class be misedemenor on top of the other penal code violations.

In utica brent kearney news channel 2 brand new at six- state police have charged