Police go airborne in the war on illegal fireworks

Authorities in one California city are warning anyone who plans to set off illegal fireworks this holiday weekend that cops may be watching – from the sky.

Police in Modesto released aerial footage from their surveillance helicopter, Sky1, showing an illegal fireworks display in a residential area on the night of June 29.

In the video, the pilot is heard directing officers on the ground to the location. It’s unclear if anyone was cited.

Only fireworks labeled “Safe and Sane” are legal in California. Aerial fireworks, like those seen in the helicopter footage, are prohibited in Modesto or anywhere unless they are part of a professional display.

For those caught, penalties range from $500 to $50,000 and could include jail time.

Last week, in one of the largest busts on record, state and local authorities seized nearly 75 tons of illegal fireworks from a storage facility in Gardena, in Los Angeles County.

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