Riverside police said they issued over 60 citations on July Fourth for the use of illegal fireworks, more than double the number compared to the previous Independence Day holiday.
An official with the department said it’s not necessarily that the use of illegal fireworks has risen, but rather that they’re now using drones to spot residents firing illegal fireworks into the sky.
“It’s video evidence, that’s the main thing,” said Officer Ryan Railsback. “Before the city council changed the law, you had to visually see it, and it’s hard on the ground to see it, try to find it, and try to get eyes on it…