Jackson, NJ – Each year as we near the Fourth of July, many New Jersey residents take the risk to drive across the Delaware to Pennyslvania to purchase fireworks.   In Pennsylvania, while fireworks can legally be purchased by out of state residents, it is illegal to transport those fireworks back into New Jersey or to use them in New Jersey without a proper fireworks use license.

However, the fireworks business in shops just on the other side of the border are booming despite the weakened economy as Jersey residents sneak across to pack their trunks with hundreds of dollars worth of explosive excitement for their upcoming Independence Day bar-b-que and party.

If you are thinking of trying this, be careful as the New Jersey State Police increases patrols during these periods, including placing undercover officers in parking lots of nearby fireworks outlets.  The officers take note of vehicles with New Jersey license plates and relay the information to awaiting troopers on the Jersey side of the bridge.   Penalties can include confiscation, fines and even prison time depending on the amount and types of fireworks being smuggled back into New Jersey.

While it may be tempting to try to sneak across the border for fireworks, consider the consequences by doing so.   Troopers target single, young males who drive across the bridges, stop at the store and head directly back.  That is usually the easiest way to get caught.

Some saavy individuals plan elaborate plans to outsmart law enforcement.  Rich of Totowa, NJ explains “We usually take two cars across the bridge.  One comes here to the fireworks shop and the other will go to a restaurant or other place somehwere near another crossing. ” he says “We’ll load up here, take my car down to the other location, transfer the fireworks and I’ll head back the way I came.  I’ll get pulled over with an empty truck while my friend clears the border.”    He goes on to add that the best time to attempt the border crossing is during rush hour traffic back into New Jersey to blend in with the normal traffic.    Rich added that by going in the middle of the afternoon when traffic levels are low is surely to raise a red flag with the authorities.

On the other side of the law, New Jersey State Police told us they confiscate nearly 6 tons of illegal fireworks each year and transporting fireworks into New Jersey to sell them is a 4th degree crime.   The department’s Office of Public Information Officer tells us  “Fireworks accidents are a consistent supplier of emergency room patients around the Fourth of July holiday, and the vast majority of those injuries are due to illegal fireworks. Even fireworks as seemingly innocuous as the firecracker cause numerous eye and ear injuries.”, adding that not only are fireworks in New Jersey illegal, they are very dangerous.