Law enforcement agencies will step up efforts to gather evidence of fireworks violations on Oʻahu this weekend as a dry run for heightened surveillance, including on New Year’s Eve — a change made possible by a new law the governor signed Monday.
The law was part of a package that state law enforcement Director Mike Lambert said heightens fireworks penalties and increases enforcement tools that will allow agencies to more aggressively pursue fireworks cases.
“If you’re lighting it up, and we see more stuff in your car or garage, expect to get blasted with a felony,” Lambert said at a press conference related to the bill signing.
Gov. Josh Green signed into law three measures aimed at cracking down on fireworks in Hawaiʻi that not only allow law enforcement to use drone footage in their investigations but also allocate more resources to law enforcement agencies to investigate fireworks cases and increase penalties for violators…