ORLANDO – A nasty neighbor plaguing homeowners with an explosive barrage of homeowners is pushing for a stricter Orange County fireworks ordinance that can ease tensions and kabooms around the area.
County commissioners discussed the improved rules at last month’s meeting.
The grievances in the working-class waterfront estate area near Little Lake Conway have been simmering for over a year, but came to a boil in September when a group of unstable residents sued before the committee members for help. They had repeatedly called the sheriff’s office, but residents notified them that enforcement action could not be taken unless officers witnessed the violation personally, residents said.
The proposed changes to the rules will drop that requirement and address the illegal use of fireworks as a violation of the code rather than a crime.
If the investigator is able to issue a written warning or quote to the suspected offender, with an order that the possible cause of the offence (such as video or audio recordings from the home security system) is “stop and resist” at a reasonable time.
Assistant County Attorney Joy Carmichael, who presented the commissioner with a draft new rule, defined a reasonable time, meaning “within five minutes or immediately.” The first offence will result in a $200 fine and a $400 fine for the second offence. Each subsequent violation will be fined $500 and require suspects to appear in court, she said.
Florida law allows fireworks “and exclusively” on three holidays. New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and July 4th.
Commissioner Meila Uribe, who has a waterfront estate in the district, said he had heard of an uneasy outburst in the neighborhood.
She described the explosion as “random – 9am, 3pm – whenever he wants.”
The drought-like circumstances this spring stopped the fireworks when Orange County and other Central Florida governments urged stray carriers to impose a burn ban so that they don’t touch them from dangerous wildfires. “We were all like ‘Harelujah’,” Uribe said.
However, it then rained, the ban was lifted and fireworks resumed.
Residents also claim that their neighbors will build phile objects on the fence of his home to trouble them.
The neighbors have identified him, but the Orlando Sentinel has not named him because he has not been charged or cited.
Due to this story, the man was unable to contact me by phone.
Jill Sharga believes the improved rules are “good news” among neighbors who appealed to the committee for assistance.
She previously appeared in front of the board with a calendar decorated with cartoon bombs.
“We’re very pleased that it’s going in the right direction,” she said in a textbook after a committee meeting on Tuesday. “The sheriff’s deputies don’t need to personally observe anyone illuminating the match to a man to blow up the bomb.”
