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Riverside police issued over 60 citations for illegal fireworks use on July 4, more than doubling the number from last year’s holiday, by deploying drones for aerial monitoring. This method provides immediate video evidence, making enforcement more effective than ground patrols, according to an ABC 7 news report.
Drone Deployment in Holiday Patrols
Police operated five drones over Riverside on July 4th to detect residents launching illegal fireworks. The technology allows operators to capture footage that identifies violation locations almost instantly.
Officer Ryan Railsback explained the advantage: “It’s video evidence, that’s the main thing.” Before a recent city council change to the law, officers needed to visually see the act in person, which proved difficult from the ground level. Drones overcome this by offering quick aerial perspectives.
The drones spotted hundreds of incidents, many on private properties. Authorities sent citations by certified mail to property owners, with fines of $1,500 for allowing illegal fireworks on their land. This approach avoids immediate confrontations and streamlines the process.
Public Safety and Risk Reduction
No serious injuries occurred in the fireworks in Riverside this July Fourth, though illegal fireworks likely sparked two small fires. Firefighters put out both fires before they caused major damage…