Tucson police officers will be deployed in specific areas to combat illegal gunfire and fireworks used to celebrate the New Year.
Recklessly discharging a firearm within the city limits is a felony, according to a Tucson Police Department Facebook post.
Celebratory gunfire remains a problem, particularly on New Year's Eve, and officers and federal agents assigned to the Gun Crimes Task Force will investigate all criminal gun activity this holiday weekend, authorities said.
In addition to Tucson police, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are on the task force.
Since 2000, firing a gun into the air has been a felony in Arizona under Shannon's Law. The law is named for Shannon Smith, a 14-year-old Phoenix girl killed by a falling bullet in June 1999.
On New Year's Day 2008, Tucson police responded to a south side home after a 5-year-old boy was grazed by a stray bullet fired during a New Year's celebration, according to an Arizona Daily Star article.
The bullet penetrated the roof and ceiling of the home. The child was sleeping in his bedroom and was hit behind the ear by the bullet likely fired by someone ringing in the new year, said police. The boy suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital and released.
Also shortly after the new year began in 2008, a second incident was reported on the city's west side. A bullet smashed through the kitchen ceiling of a house near North Silverbell and West Grant roads. No one was injured by that bullet.
Bullets can travel thousands of feet into the air, slowing as they ascend. They regain their speed as they fall back toward the ground and can reach a velocity of 700 feet per second, an officer said in a 2004 interview.Β
On Jan. 1, 1997, a pregnant Tucson woman was struck in the abdomen by a falling bullet. She and her baby survived.
Police ask that anyone who sees someone discharging or preparing to discharge a firearm in the city limits to call 911.
The TPD Facebook post did not list information about illegal fireworks, but a 2014 Star article mentioned that novelty fireworks are legal to use. This includes small, hand-held sparklers no longer than 10 inches, toy smoke devices such as smoke balls and snakes, party poppers and drop caps.
Ground spinners, sparkling-wheel devices, cylindrical, square and cone fountains, as well as California rocket-shaped fountains are permitted seasonally. That means you can use them in early July to July 6 for Independence Day, and again, Dec. 24 through Jan. 3.
Fireworks that detonate in the air are illegal to use within city limits and in the unincorporated areas of Pima County. This includes bottle rockets, skyrockets, Roman candles, helicopters, firecrackers, jumping jacks, M-80s and the like.
In the article, Tucson Fire Capt. Barrett Baker said if the item's packaging has a "Caution: Flammable" label, then the product can be used. However, if it has a "Warning" sign on it, then the product cannot be used in the city.
If caught setting off illegal fireworks, a person faces a civil fine of $1,000.
Cities and counties cannot legally prohibit the sale of fireworks, but the municipalities can restrict or prohibit their use.Β
