Fireworks light up the sky over Craig Park during the Greenwood Freedom Festival in June. Public safety officials are encouraging the public to be safe when using fireworks over the New Year’s holiday weekend.
Daily Journal File Photo
The year is nearly over, and public safety officials are encouraging the public to be safe during New Year’s celebrations this weekend.
The National Safety Council, America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, is estimating that 408 people may die on U.S. roads during the New Year’s holiday period this weekend. A major contributing factor for car crashes during this period is alcohol consumption, with 49% of fatalities during the 2020 New Year’s holiday period involving an alcohol-impaired driver, according to the NSC.
Officers from over 200 Indiana law enforcement agencies are increasing patrols this weekend as part of the Safe Family Travel holiday enforcement campaign. Police officers, including those from Johnson County, will be out in greater numbers until Jan. 1, showing “no tolerance” for anyone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to a news release from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
Officials are encouraging motorists to plan ahead to get home safely by designating a sober driver or by using public transportation or a ride service like Uber or Lyft. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office plans to have extra cars out on patrol as well, Sheriff Duane Burgess said.
“Don’t drink and drive,” Burgess said. “There’s no reason for people to drink and drive on New Year’s or any time at all. There are so many options out there you could utilize.”
Firefighters and emergency medical personnel always respond to incidents involving alcohol intoxication around New Year’s, including both car accidents and incidents at home, said Mike Pruitt, Bargersville’s deputy fire chief.
While using alternative transportation services could cost more because of the holiday, they are cheaper and safer for people in the long run.
“It’s gonna be a lot cheaper for you to do that rather than to get involved in an accident and run the potential risk of injuring, or taking someone’s life, or having mounting legal bills just from that accident,” Pruitt said.
People who are planning on hosting parties have an opportunity to nip the chances of drunk driving in the bud by watching how much alcohol people consume. A lot of the responsibility falls on party hosts to keep everyone safe, Pruitt said.
Party hosts should also offer alternative beverages for designated drivers so they don’t get tempted to drink as well, he said.
If someone does have a medical emergency while drinking, it’s important for people to make sure to not look past it. If someone is in a really bad condition, they should get medical attention, Pruitt said.
Fireworks are another part of New Year’s celebrations where people should keep safety in mind, officials say. Fireworks complaints typically go up around New Year’s, and so do the chances of injuries, Pruitt said.
Like the Fourth of July, there are certain rules and regulations that apply. Generally, fireworks are allowed to be set off between 10 a.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1 for those living within the limits of Bargersville, Edinburgh, Franklin, Greenwood, New Whiteland and Whiteland.
Johnson County does not have set fireworks regulations for unincorporated areas of the county, instead relying on the state’s fireworks regulations. State law, like the regulations for local cities and towns, says fireworks can be used from 10 a.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1.
When using fireworks, people should remember to only light one firework at a time and never attempt to re-light or fix a dud firework. A fire extinguisher or water supply should also be nearby, according to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, or IDHS.
Lit fireworks should not be held in people’s hands, and should not be pointed or thrown at others. Those watching the fireworks should stay clear of others setting them off, as there is always the chance they could backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction, IDHS officials say.
People should also make sure to not set fireworks off close to something that could catch on fire, and be respectful to those nearby, Pruitt said.
“There’s always that person in the neighborhood that just keeps hammering away at the fireworks,” Pruitt said. “Just be respectful to your neighbors if you’re going to use fireworks.”
People who violate Indiana’s fireworks law can be charged with a Class C infraction, according to the Indiana State Police. If someone recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally uses fireworks and causes property damage, they can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor.
If there is bodily injury, the charge is upgraded to a Level 6 felony, and if there is a death, it becomes a Level 5 felony, ISP officials say.
Both Pruitt and Burgess also encourage people to not shoot off firearms once the clock strikes midnight. People often want to celebrate by shooting guns off in the air, but what goes up must come down.
“We ask that at midnight, please do not shoot your firearms off,” Burgess said.
First responders sometimes get reports after New Year’s of people finding bullet holes in their roofs. Pruitt has even responded to an incident where a bullet came down through a ceiling and injured someone, he said.
In the end, New Year’s safety comes down to celebrating responsibly, Pruitt says. This applies to alcohol, fireworks and firearms.
“If you don’t report that, there’s a good chance that individual could end up becoming involved in an accident and taking someone’s life,” Pruitt said.
