Why Catching Fireworks Perpetrators Can Be Difficult - Evanston RoundTable

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Good morning, Evanston.

As the weather warms and July 4th is around the corner, the number of complaints about illegal fireworks use rises.

Evanston police are actively patrolling and citing individuals found in violation of a City code banning private fireworks, a Police Department representative told residents at a Seventh Ward community meeting on June 24.

At the same time, police face challenges from their side, too, acknowledged Sgt. Scott Sophier, who heads the department’s Community Strategies unit.

“It is difficult on the enforcement end of the fireworks calls, because, quite often, just like any other either quasi-criminal event or criminal event, we do need to have evidence in order to cite someone or arrest someone for an offense,” said Sgt. Sophier, speaking at the meeting, held both virtually and in person at the Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Boulevard.

“If we don’t see something occurring and someone’s not in possession of fireworks,” police can’t bring a complaint, he said.

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