SENATE REPUBLICANS SUSTAIN LEPAGE VETO OF RESPONSIBLE USE OF FIREWORKS BILL

AUGUSTA—The Senate fell short of the two-thirds or 24 votes needed to override a veto when all 15 Senate Republicans voted to sustain Governor LePage’s veto of a bill to ensure responsible use of fireworks.

“Once consumer fireworks became legal, I heard from more constituents about this one issue than any other. Many Mainers complained about the disruptive noise negatively impacting children, veterans who suffer from PTSD, family pets, and farm animals,” said Senator Chris Johnson of Somerville, the sponsor of the bill. “This bill would have provide some relief for those troubled by irresponsible fireworks use.”

Current law prohibits the use of fireworks after 10 p.m. except on the fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. Senator Johnson’s bill would have prohibited the use of fireworks before noon, and whenever the governor issues a proclamation prohibiting outdoor fires, and clarified that the use of fireworks may be considered disorderly conduct subject to the discretion of law enforcement officers.

The bill  LD 168, “An Act To Establish Reasonable Restrictions on the Use of Fireworks,” is now dead.