Many people who would like to celebrate New Years’ Eve with fireworks will be able to do so legally Thursday night where they couldn’t have a year ago.
Anyone who lives in a 4 ½-square mile area east of State Avenue that became part of Marysville today will be able to legally discharge fireworks between 9 a.m. Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday under city rules, according to police Cmdr. Robb Lamoureux.
Snohomish County, whose laws previously applied in the area, does not allow discharge of fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Those same fireworks lovers will lose about an hour of celebration time on the Fourth of July, however. Snohomish County allows discharge of fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on July 4 while Marysville allows fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Neither the city nor the county allows discharge of fireworks on other days surrounding July 4.
The area of about 19,000 residents officially became part of Marysville today, boosting the city’s population to about 56,000.
Another area of about 10,000 people becomes part of Lake Stevens on Thursday. The area southwest of the current city limits will bring the city’s population to about 24,000.
Fireworks lovers there will gain only one minute of celebration time. Like Snohomish County, the city allows people to set off fireworks only on Independence Day — from 9 a.m. to midnight, rather than 11:59 p.m. Fireworks are not allowed in Lake Stevens on New Year’s Eve.
The amount of time fireworks may be sold in the area joining Lake Stevens will be reduced by two days, however. Snohomish County allows fireworks to be sold between June 28 and July 6, while Lake Stevens allows sales between June 28 and July 4, Lake Stevens Police Chief Randy Celori said.
Marysville also allows sale only between June 28 and July 4, city administrator Mary Swenson said.
Both Marysville and Lake Stevens impose the standard state misdemeanor penalty for illegally setting off fireworks: a fine of $1,000 or 90 days in jail.
Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.
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