HOLLISTER, CALIFORNIA – July 8, 2020 –
The Hollister Police Department along with HFD, Code Enforcement, and Animal Control issued several citations for illegal fireworks over the holiday weekend.
Starting in late June, Hollister Code Enforcement along with Hollister Animal Care and Services has been patrolling the city looking for anyone using or in possession of any illegal fireworks. Hollister Police and Hollister Fire Personnel were out over the weekend as well issuing citations and confiscating illegal fireworks.
The amount of fireworks used this year appeared to be the worst it has ever been. Our veterans suffering from PTSD and our frightened pets had to endure a holiday weekend full of unnecessary and consistent bombardment of explosions and screeching whistles.
Over the holiday weekend there were approximately 107 calls regarding illegal and aerial fireworks. These fireworks create hazards such as loud noises and fires that not only affect residents, but pets as well. Due to the fear of all the loud noise, several pets escaped their homes or yards and were taken to the shelter.
Hollister Fire Department responded to nine fires from fireworks related incidents. There were four instances over the weekend where there was no fire service coverage available, even with extra staffing for the holiday weekend. That means if there had been another fire reported during that time, there wouldn’t have been a firefighter available to respond in a timely manner.
Hollister Police responded to calls for these illegal fireworks all over the city. Fireworks are often times hard to pin point exact locations. Many people were launching them from their back yards or they had look outs to advise when police were in the area.
The Hollister Police Department deployed officers in unmarked cars on Friday and Saturday nights in an attempt to locate and capture offenders. In total, 32 citations were issued and several loads of illegal fireworks were seized.
Hollister Police will be taking steps to use technology to assist in future operations to locate and capture offenders. The department would like to warn individuals that fines start at $1,000 and can increase up to $2,000 or more for repeated offenses. Violators could also face misdemeanor or felony criminal charges; which can include fines and jail time.
Below is a list of streets where citations were issued:
200 Block of Lassen Court (3 citations)
200 block of Graf Road
Park Hill
2100 block of Highland Drive (2 citations)
200 Block of Mariposa St.
100 block of Line St.
200 block of Madera Court
300 Block of Rustic St.
1300 Block of Bonnie View Dr.
Peach Lane
1200 block Marille Lane
1300 block of Trente Ct.
900 block of Powell St.
1000 block of Sally St.
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2200 block of Ventana Ct.
1200 block of Nez Perce Dr.
300 block of Eastview Ct.
Promise Way
00 block of Eastview Dr.
500 block of honeysuckle Way
Browns Alley
500 block of Powell St.
500 block of Lavender Way
1100 block of Apricot Lane
1200 block of Tamara Ct.
Gia Court (2 Citations)
1200 block of Morningside Cr.
1200 block of Scenic Circle.
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Prepared by: E. Olson, Lieutenant
Approved by: C. Reynoso, Interim Chief of Police
