Walk It Through: New Year's Eve
Fireworks after Christmas, the neighbors' noise, an underage guest and the ride home.
On the last night of the year, a family wants to light fountains and sparklers in the driveway.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One holiday night. Aerial fireworks, local fireworks bans, a host's civil liability for an underage guest and driving after the party are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Disturbing the peaceMaliciously and willfully disturbing the peace or quiet of a neighborhood, a family or a person by loud or unusual noise, tumultuous or offensive conduct, threatening, quarreling, challenging to fight or fighting. It is a misdemeanor.
- InfractionA civil public offense, not a crime, punishable only by a penalty not exceeding $300, with no jail.
- Minor in possessionA person under twenty-one who buys, tries to buy, consumes or possesses alcohol, which is an infraction with a fine of $300 the first time and a misdemeanor after.
- MisdemeanorAny crime that is not a felony. Unless a section sets another punishment, it carries up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
- MinorA person under eighteen years of age. A minor who has been married may enter contracts and sue on them.
- Nonaerial common fireworksThe fireworks that may be sold and used from midnight June 23 to midnight July 5 and from midnight December 26 to midnight January 1.