Wyoming

 

 WYOMING 

TITLE 35 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ARTICLE 2 FIREWORKS 

35-10-201. Definitions. 

(a) "Fireworks" means any article, device or substance prepared for the primary purpose of producing a visual or auditory sensation by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, including any item which may be sold or offered for sale under 15 U.S.C. § 1261, 21 U.S.C. § 371 and 16 C.F.R., Commercial Practices, part 1507. 

(b) "Governing body" means the board of county commissioners as to the area within a county but outside the corporate limits of any city or town; or means the city council or other governing body of a city or town as to the area within the corporate limits of such city or town. 

(c) "Person" shall include an individual, partnership, co partnership, firm, company, association or corporation. 

(d) "Commercial motor vehicle" means any self propelled or towed vehicle used on public highways in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property and the vehicle meets one (1) of the following: 

(i) The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of ten thousand one (10,001) pounds; 

(ii) The vehicle is designed to transport more than fifteen (15) passengers including the driver; or 

(iii) The vehicle is used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations issued by the secretary of transportation under the federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq. 

35-10-202. Sale and use prohibited; exception. 

Except as hereinafter provided, it is unlawful for any person to offer or expose for sale, sell, at either wholesale or retail, give away, use, discharge or detonate any fireworks in the state of Wyoming. 

35-10-204. Construction; exceptions. 

(a) This act shall not be construed to prohibit: 

(i) Any person from offering for sale, exposing for sale, selling, or delivering fireworks to any municipality, association, amusement park, or other organization or group holding a permit issued as herein provided, or to the directors of the Wyoming state fair or of any county fair organized under the laws of this state; 

(ii) Any person from using or exploding fireworks in accordance with the provisions of any permit issued as herein provided or as part of a supervised public display at the Wyoming state fair or of any county fair organized under the laws of this state; (iii) Any person from offering for sale, exposing for sale, or selling, any fireworks which are to be and are shipped by commercial motor vehicle directly out of the state; 

(iv) Any person from offering for sale, exposing for sale, selling, using, or exploding any article, device or substance for a purpose other than display, exhibition, amusement or entertainment; or when used for mining purposes, danger signals, or other necessary uses; or 

(v) Any person from offering for sale, exposing for sale, selling, using, or exploding blank cartridges for theatrical or ceremonial purposes or in organized athletic or sporting events. 

35-10-205. Further regulations by municipalities. 

This act shall not be construed to prohibit the imposition by municipal ordinance of further regulations or prohibitions upon the sale, use and possession of fireworks within the corporate limits of any city or town, including those items defined under 15 U.S.C. § 1261, but no such city or town shall permit or authorize the sale, use or possession of any fireworks in violation of this act. 

35-10-206. Enforcement; disposal of seized fireworks. 

Wyoming peace officers shall seize all stocks of fireworks held in violation of W.S. 35-10-201 through 35-10-208 and shall apply to the appropriate court for the disposition of the fireworks. Following a hearing determining the fireworks were held in violation of W.S. 35-10-201 through 35-10-208, the fireworks shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of upon order of any circuit court or district court.

35-10-207. Penalties. 

Any person violating any provision of W.S. 35-10-201 through 35-10-208 is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or by imprisonment not exceeding sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 

35-10-208. County regulation of fireworks. 

(a) For the purpose of this section "fireworks" means only those items which may be sold or offered for sale under 15 U.S.C. §1261, 21 U.S.C. §371 and 16 C.F.R., Commercial Practices, part 1507. A board of county commissioners may, subject to subsection (b) of this section: 

(i) Prohibit the sale to Wyoming residents or use of fireworks by adopting a resolution under W.S. 35-9-301; 

(ii) Promulgate reasonable rules and regulations for authorizing the sale of fireworks. 

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the proposition to prohibit, or authorize in counties that currently prohibit, the sale or use of fireworks in a county shall be submitted to the electors of the county upon receipt by the board of county commissioners of a petition requesting the election signed by a number of the electors of the county equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of votes cast at the general election immediately preceding the date on which the petition is submitted, or by resolution of the board of county commissioners. The proposition shall be submitted at a primary or general election, if the petition or resolution is certified sixty (60) days prior to the primary or general election. If the proposition fails, no such petition shall be submitted for four (4) years following the election. 

(c) Any resolution adopted by a county prohibiting the sale or use of fireworks which was in effect on February 1, 1990, is deemed to be valid unless amended or repealed by the board of county commissioners pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.