On Monday, Governor Josh Green signed House Bills 1483 and 550 into law as Acts 243 and 244 to address illegal fireworks in Hawai‘i. The legislation follows the Āliamanu fireworks incident on New Year’s Eve and concerns about environmental risks from events like the Maui wildfires. Senator Brandon Elefante said, “These new laws give us the tools to crack down on repeat offenders, protect our neighborhoods, and hold people accountable,” as reported by the Office of the Governor.
Act 243 changes the criminal penalties for fireworks violations in Hawai‘i. It includes higher fines and possible jail time for setting off fireworks near homes and increases penalties for repeat offenses or cases causing serious injury. The law also updates rules on fireworks weight and raises penalties based on how much is found, aiming to address both large-scale trafficking and individual misuse, according to the Office of the Governor.
Act 244 allows law enforcement to use drones to collect evidence for prosecution. Mike Lambert, Director of the Department of Law Enforcement, said, "The law enforcement community appreciates the Governor and Legislators for giving us the laws and tools to truly make a difference moving forward." The law includes rules to ensure the use of drones is done “while maintaining appropriate safeguards around privacy and surveillance on private property.” It is part of a group of new laws meant to support public safety and reduce injuries related to illegal fireworks, as stated by the Office of the Governor.
