Morning set-up. Business for the day was not yet popping at this tent in a Walmart parking lot in Rochester. Sparkler fever would arrive later in the day. Image: Steve Lunde
What Minnesota law says about fireworks
WINONA, Minn. – Those celebratory booms and blasts for Independence Day are mostly heard but not unseen. People who light the fuses know better than to flaunt what’s an illegal activity. Minnesota law forbids all but:
> Sparkers. So long as they have no than 100 grams of ignitable material. That’s 3-1/2 ounces.
> Tubes. No more man than 75 grams (2-1/2 ounces) of mixture per tube or a 500 grams (17-1/2 ounces) per multiple tubes.
> Trick devices. Snakes, glow worms, smoke devices, noisemakers, paper streamers, party poppers, string poppers, snappers, and drop pops are limited to minute amounts of mixture.
About Wisconsin
Neighboring Wisconsin has looser fireworks laws, which explains all the pop-up vendors at border crossing like Bluff Siding across he Mississippi River from Winona. Illegal imports can mean 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Mega imports, defined as 35 pounds or more, can mean 100 days and $3,000. Municipalities and agencies can be licensed as exception for community shows.