As New Year's Eve approaches, Arizonans are gearing up to celebrate with food, friends, drinks and parties. Many people are hoping to take advantage of new Arizona laws on fireworks to add some sparkle and noise to their parties.

This year, Gov. Brewer legalized fireworks in Arizona with a law permitting people ages 16 and older to buy and use handheld fireworks. These include: sparklers, cone fountains, ground spinners and other fireworks that are not designed to explode in the air. As of December 1, 2010, it is legal to buy and use these types of fireworks in Arizona, unless a local ordinance restricts their use.

The fireworks statute prohibits smaller fireworks like jumping jacks, bottle rockets, roman candles, helicopters and other devices that explode or fire in the air.

Despite the new law allowing smaller, handheld fireworks, many Arizona cities quickly enacted city ordinances that ban setting off fireworks within city limits. Here are some cities that ban the use of fireworks:

  • Cave Creek
  • Chandler
  • Mesa
  • Phoenix
  • Scottsdale
  • Tempe

Other cities like Sierra Vista and Paradise Valley have considered ordinance bans, but it does not appear that they have passed ordinances yet.

Adding a little sparkle to your New Year's party can be fun, but if you use fireworks to celebrate New Year's Eve, please do so safely. The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2008, seven people died and over 7,000 were treated in emergency rooms for injuries such as burns, lacerations and eye injuries sustained from fireworks.

Certain fireworks may be legal, but they are still dangerous. In 2008, more than one in six fireworks-related injuries were caused by sparklers and small firecrackers. Contact an experienced Arizona personal injury lawyer if you were burned or injured by a defective firework or by a negligent use of fireworks this New Year's Eve.

Related Story:

Fireworks Laws Differ in Arizona Cities