By GLENN MINNIS
Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (IRN) — The annual pilgrimage of Illinois residents to neighboring states has kicked into high gear in anticipation of the Independence Day weekend.
With many of the more popular fireworks not readily available in Illinois due to the Pyrotechnic Use Act, more than a few Illinoisans are again proving willing to go the extra-mile to bring fireworks celebrations to life.
“I would say 80% of our clientele is from Chicago,” Randi Zambo, manager of family-owned Dynamite Fireworks in Hammond, Indiana told The Center Square. “Typically, they want the big loud stuff. They want the items that make a statement. They want the stuff that goes up, does a nice show in the air. They just want to put on a nice show and celebrate our country or celebrate to celebrate.”
Despite fireworks displays being a long-standing tradition across much of the country, Illinois joins Massachusetts and Vermont as the only states to ban some or all fireworks with violations in Illinois coming with fines of up to $2,500.
Justin Bartlett is in Iowa, but the Crossroads store he serves as managing partner at in Bettendorf gleefully sees much of the same Illinois traffic this time of year.
“If they come this far, that’s pretty motivated,” he said. “So, they’re usually buying quite a bit. They’re usually buying more of our bigger stuff to put together a show. If you’re going to drive a couple of hours to get fireworks, then they’re not coming for just little stuff usually.”
Bartlett insists all the increased business comes without his store doing much marketing.
With fireworks stands in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri all cashing in from Illinois customers, some say the state is missing out on as much as $15 million in sales tax revenues.
Illinois state Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mohomet, has previously filed legislation aimed at legalizing fireworks across the state, but the measure has stalled amid concerns about safety.
Bartlett sees it all as just Illinois being Illinois.
“I think your government is pretty dysfunctional in a lot of ways,” he said. “I think that’s one of them, but I’ll leave that for the people of Illinois to decide what they want their representatives to do.”
While there are upwards of 120 state licensed fireworks stores around Illinois, buyers must be trained and permitted by the state within 15 days of a planned display. Buyers are also required to undergo a local fire marshal inspection where all rules and regulations must be satisfied.
