The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is set to begin new illegal fireworks patrols beginning Tuesday and lasting through the Fourth of July.The pilot program, funded from the safe and sane fireworks industry and Sacramento County, will include 10 two-person teams dedicated to responding and issuing citations for use of illegal fireworks, said Tess Deterding, a Sacramento County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman."In the past, I think some people have felt that they reported these issues and they've gone unaddressed. This year, we have a new approach, so trust that this process will be different," Deterding said.The sheriff's office is highlighting that the patrols will be issuing citations for illegal fireworks with fines up to $1,000 per offense.Last year, sheriff's deputies responded to 280 911 calls, most related to fireworks, in a one-hour stretch beginning at 9 p.m., according to Deterding."Hopefully, this will send a message and cause some to think twice before using illegal fireworks," Deterding said.If you see someone actively lighting illegal fireworks, the sheriff's office is urging you to call the non-emergency line at 916-874-5115. However, if you only see or hear illegal fireworks around your neighborhood, you are asked to call 311 over the next three days in order to help capture data used to inform further enforcement efforts, authorities said.

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is set to begin new illegal fireworks patrols beginning Tuesday and lasting through the Fourth of July.

The pilot program, funded from the safe and sane fireworks industry and Sacramento County, will include 10 two-person teams dedicated to responding and issuing citations for use of illegal fireworks, said Tess Deterding, a Sacramento County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.


"In the past, I think some people have felt that they reported these issues and they've gone unaddressed. This year, we have a new approach, so trust that this process will be different," Deterding said.

The sheriff's office is highlighting that the patrols will be issuing citations for illegal fireworks with fines up to $1,000 per offense.

Last year, sheriff's deputies responded to 280 911 calls, most related to fireworks, in a one-hour stretch beginning at 9 p.m., according to Deterding.

"Hopefully, this will send a message and cause some to think twice before using illegal fireworks," Deterding said.

If you see someone actively lighting illegal fireworks, the sheriff's office is urging you to call the non-emergency line at 916-874-5115. However, if you only see or hear illegal fireworks around your neighborhood, you are asked to call 311 over the next three days in order to help capture data used to inform further enforcement efforts, authorities said.