As Diwali approaches, the Frisco Police Department in Texas has reminded residents that possessing or setting off fireworks within city limits is illegal, warning that violations can carry fines of up to $2,000.
The department issued the reminder in a post on X, asking residents to observe the festival while complying with local regulations.
“With Diwali upon us, we’d like to remind our residents that it is unlawful to discharge or possess fireworks in Frisco,” the department said. “Violators can face a fine of up to $2000. Please celebrate the festival of lights safely and legally.”
The warning comes ahead of Diwali, which falls on Nov. 8 this year.
However, the restriction is not a new measure introduced specifically for the Hindu festival considering Frisco’s municipal code has a standing prohibition on fireworks that applies throughout the year.
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The discussion also comes amid controversy surrounding Ganesh Visarjan in McKinney, Texas, on Sept. 17, where a resident claimed that he witnessed a group immersing a Ganesh idol in a pond at Nora Haney Park and leaving it there.
According to The Dallas Express, he questioned whether the incident violated Section 365.012 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, which prohibits the illegal dumping of legally defined litter, including into water.
The city’s definition of fireworks covers devices designed to produce visible or audible effects through combustion, explosions or detonation.
Under Article III, Section 38-53 of the city’s municipal code, manufacturing, selling, offering for sale, discharging or possessing fireworks of any type is prohibited, subject to the exceptions specified in the ordinance.
The prohibition is accompanied by penalties under Section 38-56, and anyone found guilty of violating the ordinance can be charged and fined up to $2,000.
The department’s message has brought attention to the regulations governing fireworks during the festival season.
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The reminder also emphasizes the distinction between celebrating Diwali and using fireworks, which are subject to separate local restrictions.
Texas regulations allow local authorities to establish restrictions on fireworks within their jurisdictions.
The Texas Department of Insurance advises residents to check local rules before purchasing or using fireworks, as regulations differ between communities.
Although state rules establish designated periods during which licensed retailers may sell fireworks, that does not override municipal prohibitions on possessing or discharging them.
For Frisco residents preparing for Diwali, the police department’s message makes clear that the city’s fireworks prohibition remains in effect during the celebrations and the residents must comply with the local ordinance, regardless of the occasion.