Escondido leaders looking to use drones to help catch people using illegal fireworks

The peace and serenity Doris Spies and her neighbors enjoy in their Escondido homes has been interrupted throughout the years by illegal fireworks.

“On a random Thursday, we had, there was a big boom about two weeks ago, in the middle of the week,” said Spies. “These are big. We have some that have gone off that have shaken the house.”

Spies is part of a group called “Escondido Fights Illegal Fireworks.” They’ve been lobbying the city for stricter fireworks laws.

“I really want our community to start caring about how their fireworks affect other people, as well as, of course, the fire safety issue,” said Spies.

Most of the reports of fireworks concerns flair up in the eastern part of the city, where Spies lives, according to the group’s heat map.

Their informal survey also shows that about 75% of Escondido’s roughly 150,000 residents are disturbed by fireworks.

It’s why they’re urging people to be considerate of their neighbors.

“There was maybe a couple who just got their baby to sleep, and then — boom — right? And now the baby’s awake. And then we have people on our council group who have PTSD for military service. And they tell us how much this, the fireworks stress them out,” said Spies.

Mayor Dane White has heard resident’s plea for help and Escondido Fights Illegal Fireworks’ two-pronged proposal to stop illegal fireworks.

It was considered during last Thursday’s city fireworks subcommittee.

The proposal includes allowing the police and fire departments to use drones to identify violators.

“We have it broken down into high priority areas based on past calls for service. So, in those concentrated areas, EPD will have a drone or two sort of hovering and monitoring throughout the night, which will make it, again, easier for them to issue violations and actually catch the people who are doing it,” said Mayor White.

The plan would also increase fines from $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on what authorities find.

“If a call comes in, it allows them to send the violation directly to the address that was reported having lit the fireworks. And then it’ll be $1,000 per violation, meaning per firework in your possession. And it’s not just for lighting fireworks, it is for the manufacturer, the sale, storage,” said White.

Mayor White is hoping if passed, the new law will send a definite message: “If you are considering lighting fireworks in the City of Escondido, please rethink your life’s choices, because it will not be worth it.”

The ordinance still must be put to a full vote of the council in two weeks.

If passed, it would take effect in time for the July Fourth holiday.