Floridians as young as 16 would be able to buy bottle rockets or more powerful fireworks under a bill that passed a state Senate panel on Wednesday. Members of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee approved a measure that acknowledges a large and long-standing loophole in the state's ban on fireworks.
Currently the law limits sales to relatively harmless devices such as sparklers, while banning sales of more powerful explosives like bottle rockets. But the loophole allows the sale of more powerful devices if the person buying them signs a waiver claiming an exemption for agricultural purposes.
Bill sponsor Jeff Brandes, a Saint Petersburg Republican, calls the existing state law a "façade" because there's no age limit to buy fireworks, and retailers don't have to verify why people are buying them."All you have to do is sign the form", Brandes explained. "They don’t care if you are actually using them for an agricultural exemption or not. They just care that you purchase the product and go home with it. So we purchased the product, signed the form, went home; launched them off."
The bill would still require people to sign a waiver, but allows them to say that they're buying the fireworks for personal use.
Opponents, including several members of the committee and the state Fire Chiefs Association, say the proposal could increase injuries and damage from fireworks. Also on Wednesday, a vote in the House on a similar bill was postponed.