June 29, 2010
Office of The Attorney General
– Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Consumer Affairs
– Thomas R. Calcagni, Acting Director
Media Inquiries-
Jeff Lamm
973-504-6327
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925
Consumer Alert: Fireworks Regulation Law
The state’s Fireworks Regulation Law provides that it is unlawful for any person to offer for sale, sell, possess or use fireworks in New Jersey without a valid permit.
New Jersey’s Fireworks Regulation Law states that a valid permit issued by a town for public fireworks display must “name one person who shall be authorized to purchase, or otherwise order, and receive delivery of any fireworks. After such permit shall have been granted, sales, possession, and use of fireworks for such display shall be lawful for that purpose only. “
Any person who sells, offers or exposes for sale, or possesses with intent to sell any fireworks is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Any person who purchases, uses, discharges, causes to be discharged, ignites, fires, or otherwise sets in action, or possesses any fireworks without having the required permit is guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense.
Four Pennsylvania-based fireworks companies in 2007 agreed to revise their business practices when advertising and selling products to New Jersey customers after being sued by the state. The companies’ advertisements, web sites, mailed circulars and in-store signage must state that, “New Jersey law prohibits the transportation, sale, possession or use of fireworks in New Jersey without a valid permit.”
Any business that advertises, offers to sell or sells fireworks to residents of New Jersey is required to clearly and conspicuously disclose that fireworks are illegal to possess or use in New Jersey without a valid permit. Failure to do so would constitute a violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and its regulations.
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