LIHU‘E — Complaints about illegal fireworks during New Year’s celebrations have slowly escalated over the last few years, and citations have remained relatively low, according to the Kaua‘i Police Department. By comparison, the number of arrests related to other types
LIHU‘E — Complaints about illegal fireworks during New Year’s celebrations have slowly escalated over the last few years, and citations have remained relatively low, according to the Kaua‘i Police Department. By comparison, the number of arrests related to other types of crime have nearly doubled, Police Chief Darryl Perry told the Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday.
After receiving a letter from a Lihu’e resident concerned about the illegal use and potential fire hazards of aerial fireworks during the recent holidays, Kaua‘i County Councilman Dickie Chang asked Perry to give the council an update on police operations during the celebrations.
On New Year’s Day, KPD received 49 complaints of fireworks violations and issued two citations, Perry told the council.
“We take these complaints very seriously,” he said. “But in terms of overall responses to cases, there are other cases that we have responded to during this time frame that are also very serious.”
On New Year’s Day, there were 479 complaints overall which resulted in 25 arrests for drugs, theft, assault, family abuse, drunken driving, burglary, harassment, disorderly conduct, reckless endangering and other crimes, Perry said.
KPD Assistant Chief Alejandre Quibilan said New Year’s Day is possibly the busiest time of the year for law enforcement.
“We have numerous calls for services,” said Quibilan, adding that more than twice the number of officers are usually scheduled to work, from Ha‘ena to Polihale.
Still, it’s difficult to issue a citation for a fireworks violation, he said. For an officer to issue a citation he has to see someone setting off the fireworks, or someone else has to identify the person to the police.
On the Fourth of July, when some types of fireworks are also allowed, KPD usually receives complaints, but statistics provided by Perry show those complaints are historically lower than on New Year’s Day.
On New Year’s Day in 2011, KPD received 41 complaints and issued one citation.
As a comparison, on July 4, 2011, KPD received 28 complaints and issued no citations.
On New Year’s in 2010, KPD received 39 complaints and issued one citation. On July 4, 2010, KPD received 14 complaints and issued no citations.
On New Year’s Day in 2009, KPD received 28 complaints and issued no citations. On July 4, 2009, KPD received 24 complaints and issued no citations.
The overall number of complaints and arrests for all types of crime on New Year’s Day had either declined or increased slightly since 2009.
But from 2011 to 2012 the number of complaints climbed almost 20 percent, and arrests also increased.
On New Year’s Day in 2009, there were 395 complaints overall and 26 arrests.
On New Year’s Day in 2010, there were 425 complaints overall and 20 arrests. On New Year’s Day in 2011, there were 405 complaints overall and 14 arrests.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
