I see people every year lighting off illegal fireworks all over NOVA and I was thinking about going to PA this year to get a little stash of my own. Is there anywhere in NOVA that has a big field or decent size space to let some off without uptight white people? Specifically in or around the centreville area? Many of the people I see on July 4th light them off close to buildings or houses. I would like to give a little respect to the people who worked hard for their home and go to a place at a safe distance if their is such a spot

bchillin83 Wrote:
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> I see people every year lighting off illegal
> fireworks all over NOVA and I was thinking about
> going to PA this year to get a little stash of my
> own. Is there anywhere in NOVA that has a big
> field or decent size space to let some off without
> uptight white people? Specifically in or around
> the centreville area? Many of the people I see on
> July 4th light them off close to buildings or
> houses. I would like to give a little respect to
> the people who worked hard for their home and go
> to a place at a safe distance if their is such a
> spot

Go to Chantilly and head up Route 50 heading west. There are some great places out there to shoot off fireworks.

Be careful. Fireworks are dangerous.

Nice try, law "enforcement".

Leave fireworks to the experts.

lol, im not law enforcement but thanks

bchillin83 Wrote:
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> lol, im not law enforcement but thanks


If you go to Phantom you need to head north on the interstate when you leave. Go up a couple exits and make sure you are not being followed. Stop somewhere and have lunch or whatever then make a break for VA. There are federal agents in vehicles that do not look like police vehicles who would love to catch you taking bottle rockets across state lines.

Dude4 Wrote:
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> bchillin83 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------

> If you go to Phantom you need to head north on the
> interstate when you leave. Go up a couple exits
> and make sure you are not being followed. Stop
> somewhere and have lunch or whatever then make a
> break for VA. There are federal agents in
> vehicles that do not look like police vehicles who
> would love to catch you taking bottle rockets
> across state lines.


Nowadays - since Times Square - Phantom requires all buyers to present state- issued photo ID. If the feds care, they can be waiting for you in your driveway after you "go up a couple exits and make sure you are not being followed," after you "stop somewhere and have lunch or whatever," and after you finally "make a break for VA."

Don't buy illegal fireworks

Just Don't wait till july 1st to buy them,The cops are looking for the people that fill uhaul trailers and trucks with them. When it comes to setting them off, Lake Braddock is standing room only. "Enjoy".

Dude4 Wrote:
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> bchillin83 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > lol, im not law enforcement but thanks
>
>
> If you go to Phantom you need to head north on the
> interstate when you leave. Go up a couple exits
> and make sure you are not being followed. Stop
> somewhere and have lunch or whatever then make a
> break for VA. There are federal agents in
> vehicles that do not look like police vehicles who
> would love to catch you taking bottle rockets
> across state lines.

Federal Agents have better things to do than track people buying fireworks in PA and taking the fireworks into VA, especially since some Class C (consumer) fireworks are legal in VA. MD used to post undercover police as lookouts in VA who would spot people with MD tags buying fireworks at VA firework stands in Alexandria and McLean. The spotters would radio the tag numbers to the waiting police who would pull the cars over once they crossed into MD, confiscate the fireworks and issue a citation.

When you buy Fireworks from Phanton, Keystone, or other large retailer they obtain your ID and record your name and address. The seller also records your purchases. They provide this information to the FBI, DHS, and DOJ monthly via electronic media. This is disclosed on the disclaimer document you sign before you are allowed to enter the store.

BTW, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Office of the Fire Marshal, puts out a list of approved fireworks every year. Only fireworks on the list can be sold by Fireworks Outlets in the county. If we respond to your address based on complaints from your neighbors, information observed by FFX 1 (helicopter) or patrol units and find fireworks that are not on the approved list, you can be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor.
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Ive heard and read all the stories about lookouts. I know its a class 1 misdemeanor for up to 12 months in jail and a $2500 fine, either or both. I also know that whatever the fireworks stands sell in VA are only apporved by the state/county.

To be honest, its bizarre how many people on July 4th are setting off illegal fireworks, even doing it close to houses and buildings. For the money I would spend at a fireworks stand in VA I would rather go to PA and get a small stash for something that goes more than 3 feet off the ground.

I do have some respect for homeowners who dont want their house set on fire from illegal fireworks which is why I am trying to find a big field somewhere to let a few off.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2013 01:47PM by bchillin83.

I have lived in the same house for 37 years. Every year for the Fourth of July we shoot several hundred dollars worth of illegal fireworks off in our front yard. We have several "shooters" spaced safely apart and we don't shoot WMD-class stuff. It's illegal sure...but it's not the stuff that concusses people's windows out 5 blocks away. We also keep a stash of legal fireworks which we intermingle in our "show".

And every year, the police come and say, "There's been reports of illegal fireworks blah...blah...blah..."

And every year we say, "Oh really? Well, I hope you catch them officer..."

Every now and then, they'll get out and check our "arsenal"...but they never find anything illegal. 37 years and not one arrest or ticket.

Morton in Lorton Wrote:
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> I have lived in the same house for 37 years. Every
> year for the Fourth of July we shoot several
> hundred dollars worth of illegal fireworks off in
> our front yard. We have several "shooters" spaced
> safely apart and we don't shoot WMD-class stuff.
> It's illegal sure...but it's not the stuff that
> concusses people's windows out 5 blocks away. We
> also keep a stash of legal fireworks which we
> intermingle in our "show".
>
> And every year, the police come and say, "There's
> been reports of illegal fireworks
> blah...blah...blah..."
>
> And every year we say, "Oh really? Well, I hope
> you catch them officer..."
>
> Every now and then, they'll get out and check our
> "arsenal"...but they never find anything illegal.
> 37 years and not one arrest or ticket.


On July 4, you have nothing to worry about.

I have done what you describe on ordinary Friday or Saturday nights. At a certain point in the festivities - as I'm sure you know - visibility on the entire block gets down to less than 100 ft due to all the smoke.

That's when the cops show up.

And that's when you must make yourselves scarce.

We should have a shoot off, haha. I assume you shoot off class C, 1.4G?

Shit, ive always tried looking in my neighborhood to find one of the million people firing off illegal stuff to talk to them and join "forces" and combine our stuff and just have fun... little do you know, its not easy to find them even when they are doing it because they must be in their backyards haha.. I have a pretty decent sized stash every year, $350+ per year and am open to meeting others in the area that are interested in shooting off things as a group. Im also trying to start finding people in the area that would like to start combining our money into buying wholesale which not only will save a lot but will get a hell of a lot more fireworks than you do retail at places like phantom fireworks... Not to mention if you do early bird wholesale at wfboom or patriotic fireworks you can get up to 40% off! I am contemplating a trip up to wfboom or patriotic fireworks (ohio or md/same products but some are low on certain items at this time of year) to get a few cases of some things even with missing out on the percent saved. Let me know if youd like to join me

Dude4 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bchillin83 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > lol, im not law enforcement but thanks
>
>
> If you go to Phantom you need to head north on the
> interstate when you leave. Go up a couple exits
> and make sure you are not being followed. Stop
> somewhere and have lunch or whatever then make a
> break for VA. There are federal agents in
> vehicles that do not look like police vehicles who
> would love to catch you taking bottle rockets
> across state lines.


You don't want the man to catch you with these.
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I have gooks all around me, and it sounds like the start of the Tet offensive when the sun goes down on the Fourth.

I don't know where the motherfuckers get that high-powered shit. Maybe it's homemade, gooks invented fireworks after all.

crazynut5 Wrote:
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> Shit, ive always tried looking in my neighborhood
> to find one of the million people firing off
> illegal stuff to talk to them and join "forces"...

Nice idea but that will attract cops for sure. As it is, they have usually been cool about the ones going off here and there on 7/4. But only on the 4th.

gooks Wrote:
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> I have gooks all around me, and it sounds like the
> start of the Tet offensive when the sun goes down
> on the Fourth.
>
> I don't know where the motherfuckers get that
> high-powered shit. Maybe it's homemade, gooks
> invented fireworks after all.

I get all of mine in SC when I'm there. Good stuff!

Lived here forever Wrote:
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> Nice idea but that will attract cops for sure. As
> it is, they have usually been cool about the ones
> going off here and there on 7/4. But only on the
> 4th.

Unless you are a total dipshit when we come by, most Cops in Fairfax County aren't going to spend the time writing up the citation. Doesn't matter if its July 3, July 4, July 5, Labor Day Weekend, New Years Eve, or your Grandpapi's 100th birthday. We have to determine the number of illegal fireworks you are shooting off, and for that we have to call the Fire Marshal because they maintain, "the official list!" If you have been around FFX county forever, then you know the FCPD and the FCFRD do not play well together. I have better things to do then wait for a Fire Marshal to get off his lazy butt, drive over to my location, and tell me which, if any of the fireworks are illegal. We will usually give a warning and be own our way. If we have to come out again because of another complaint, then we might throw the book at you!

Johnny Law Wrote:
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> Unless you are a total dipshit when we come by...


That includes most of Fairfax county right there.

I have been lighting off fireworks from Phanton and Patriotic for the last 20 years, on days leading up to and after July 4th, New Year's Eve and after Snowmaggedon in 2010 (Fireworks like soo cool when there's is snow on the ground). Cops have come by a couple of times when neighbors called, but they were cool, checked that we had a hose and water handy, told us they liked our display, and left! Never received a citation or anything else. We were cool and respectful when talking with the officers and they were cool with us.

Thanks for posting Johnny Law.. You seem more sensible than some of the FCPD staff that I've had the most unfortunate pleasure of running into