Hoboken will be cracking down on people setting off fireworks and other night-time nuisances — and slapping fines of up to $500 on offenders, Police Chief Ken Ferrante said.
Every night between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Hoboken residents have been kept awake by the setting of fireworks, Ferrante said. Residents have also been forced to endure loud music, revving car and motorcycle engines and public drinking.
Starting Monday night, a quality of life, high visibility deployment of police officers will be hitting the streets, supplementing regular night patrols, Ferrante said.
“I have also asked Mayor Ravinder Bhalla and his administration as well as the City Council to consider putting forth legislation banning both the sale and the use of fireworks in the city,” Ferrante said.
The Hoboken Fire Department will assist with inspections at local stores to ensure that illegal fireworks are not being sold. State legislation in 2017 legalized many forms of sparklers and fireworks, but explosive and aerial fireworks remain illegal.
Last week Jersey City announced it was devoting a unit to put an end to the fireworks being fired off all over the city. Multiple videos posted on social media showed people firing Roman candles at each other.
Ferrante is asking that people who witness groups setting off fireworks late at night to contact the police department at 201-420-2100, as the conduct is occurring.
“No matter what the reason is, the time that the conduct is occurring is unacceptable and is causing problems for Hoboken’s 53,000+ residents and first responders,” the police chief said. “We are taking immediate steps after what our residents and officers dealt with over the weekend.”
Ferrante said the number of large groups congregating on the waterfront, playing loud music, setting off fireworks, drinking and urinating in the parks “needs to be addressed.”