Erie County DA issues warning to public in response to growing number of fireworks complaints

The district attorneys office says setting off fireworks is not only dangerous and disruptive, but also illegal.

NAT SOUNDPAUL ANDREWS ANDHIS 10-YEAR-OLD LABCHARLIE ARE BESTFRIENDS.PAUL: WHENEVER ICOME HOME, NOMATTER HOW LONG I'MGONE, SHE GREETS MEWITH A DIRTY SOCK, ABONE, A PIECE OFPAPER.

THAT'S HERGIFT TO ME.CHARLIE TURNS 11THIS WEEK... AND HERDAD SAYS THE BESTBIRTHDAY PRESENTWOULD BE FOR THEFIREWORKS TOSTOP.PAUL: WHEN SHE'SINSIDE THE HOUSESHE'S CONSTANTLYBARKING, SCRATCHINGAT THE DOOR.

I TAKEHER OUT AND SHEWANTS TO GO BACK INAGAIN.

OUT IN OUT IN.SO IT'S A BIT DRAININGON ME, IT'S DRAININGON CHARLIE.THERE'S ONLY ONETHING THAT WILLMAKE HER FEELBETTER.PAUL: I PUT HER IN THEBACK SEAT OF THECAR.

THAT'S HERSECURITY ZONE.

BUT IDON'T LIKE TO HAVE TOLEAVE HER THERE FORFOUR HOURS BECAUSEIT GETS VERY VERYWARM IN THE CAR.PAUL: THERE'SNOTHING I CAN REALLYDO AND THATFRUSTRATES ME.STAND UP: BUT THEREIS SOMETHING LAWENFORCEMENT CANDO.

THE ERIE COUNTYDISTRICT ATTORNEY'SOFFICE IS REMINDINGPEOPLE OF THECHARGES THEY CANFACE FOR SETTING OFFFIREWORKS.DA: IF THEY DON'TCHANGE THEIR MINDABOUT WHAT THEY DOAND THEY GET CAUGHTAND THEY HURTSOMEONE OR DAMAGESOMEONE'SPROPERTY, OR THEYCAUSE A DISTURBANCETHAT RISES TO THELEVEL OF A CRIMINALCHARGE, WELL THENYEAH I AM GOING TOGET JUSTICE FOR THATOLD MAN.BUT... DISTRICTATTORNEY JOHNFLYNN SAYS HEDOESN'T WANT TOOVER-ENFORCE.DA: HERE I AM GOINGTO BE THE BAD GUYNOW AND BE THENEIGHBOR NEXT DOORWHO'S GET OFF MYLAWN GUY.

I DON'TWANT TO BE GET OFFMY LAWN GUY,ALRIGHT?

I WANT TO BEREASONABLE HEREAND ALLOW PEOPLE TOHAVE FUN.IT IS LEGAL TO SETOFF SPARKINGDEVICES... BUT NOTTHE KIND OFFIREWORKS THAT FLYINTO THE SKY.DA: WHAT I'M TALKINGABOUT HERE ARE THEINCREASE INCOMPLAINTS FROM THEACTUAL BOOMFIREWORKS.IN KAISERTOWN, OP,