Area lawmakers find that Ohio’s fireworks law is ‘ridiculous.’

YOUNGSTOWN — The fireworks displays in some neighborhoods over the Fourth of July weekend were as spectacular as ones put on by the professionals.

The rockets had red glare. The bombs burst in mid-air. They caused your neighbors to go “ooh” and “ahh” with each multi-colored explosion.

And unless the display featured only sparklers, snaps, smoke bombs and glow snakes, they were illegal.

Here’s another Fourth of July tradition: Though the use of other fireworks is illegal, police made only a few arrests this past weekend.

Ohio’s fireworks law is “utterly ridiculous” and “makes liars out of all of us,” said state Rep. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-60th.

It’s legal in Ohio to purchase consumer fireworks such as firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles and spraying fountains. But it’s against the law to discharge them in Ohio.

When purchasing fireworks, a person must sign a form that lists the state to which the fireworks will be transported and requires Ohioans to get them out of the state within 48 hours.

“It’s a wink-and-a-nod law,” Hagan said. “It makes liars out of everyone who signs” the form.

Hagan along with three other state legislators from the Mahoning Valley — state Reps. Ronald V. Gerberry of Austintown, D-59th; Thomas Letson of Warren, D-64th; and state Sen. John Boccieri of New Middletown, D-33rd — say the General Assembly needs to consider legalizing consumer fireworks next year.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com