The Fourth of July is right around the corner and the city of Covington has made a few changes in regulations concerning fireworks.

At the May 25 City Council meeting, the members unanimously passed an ordinance amending the current fireworks code, making an individual’s first two offenses civil infractions, but the third will be criminal. Also the Kent Fire Department staff and police officers can cite individuals who violate the fireworks law.

The city code states residents can ignite consumer fireworks from 9 a.m. to midnight July 4 and from 6 p.m. Dec. 31 until 1 a.m. Jan. 1 of the following year.

The city’s code states the intent is to regulate, not prohibit fireworks.

City Manager Derek Matheson said the ordinance “creates a new option for enforcement of the rules. Right now any violation is a criminal offense.”

Matheson noted it takes far more time for an officer to process a criminal offense, but with the new law an officer can write a citation, then confiscate and dispose of the fireworks. If the infraction is criminal the officer has to write a report and the fireworks are kept as evidence.

The city manager noted on the Fourth of July the police department receives many more calls than usual.

At the May 25 City Council meeting Councilman Wayne Snoey said the ordinance will work well in “instances where people will not listen.”

Councilman Mark Lanza said he supported the measure “reluctantly. I think we need a total ban.”

Lanza pointed out he witnessed his neighbor’s home “nearly go up in flames.”

He also said he did not think this was a simple law for the officers to enforce.

“I think the simplest is an outright ban,” Lanza said. “But I will reluctantly support this.”

Fireworks can be sold from noon to 11 p.m. June 28 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 29 through July 4.