Ban on using fireworks – true or false?

For quite some time now, both on television and in the press, we’ve been hearing that there’s a ban on fireworks in Poland and that we can legally enjoy pyrotechnics only two days a year. Nothing could be further from the truth! Where does the public myth about a fireworks ban come from? By canceling public displays, city authorities have phrased their messages in a way that creates the impression there are legal provisions prohibiting the use of pyrotechnic products. What’s particularly surprising is that the Police sometimes even warn that the law bans the use of fireworks and firecrackers except on December 31 and January 1. Considering Polish legal regulations, we can read that this ban—except on December 31 and January 1—applies exclusively to PUBLIC PLACES and the hours of their use (10 p.m.–6 a.m.). What exactly does this mean for an ordinary fireworks fan? Indeed, for safety reasons, you cannot go out onto a city square, a residential street, or other areas owned by the city and use fireworks there if you are not authorized to do so. In such a case, we can agree that a practical ban on fireworks use exists. However, anyone on their private property (their own yard) has the right to set off fireworks all year round, as long as they do not disturb the so-called quiet hours at night. In practice, fireworks accompany us almost daily in celebrating important events such as weddings, private parties, corporate events, or birthdays. Moreover, remember that professional pyrotechnic teams can LEGALLY organize displays both on private and municipal property. Keep in mind that if you’re attending an event at a venue and would like to organize a small DIY fireworks display, you can do it. One of the two conditions you must meet is obtaining written permission from the owner of the property from which you plan to launch the fireworks. This is very often done for amateur fireworks at weddings. You can read about how to arrange a professional wedding display here: https://blog.fajerwerkilider.pl/jak-zaplanowac-fajerwerki-na-weselu/. My neighbors called the Police and I got a fine—why? On private property, you can use pyrotechnics, but only during hours when quiet hours do not apply. Nighttime salvos can carry negative consequences under the provision prohibiting the disturbance of peace, nighttime rest, and public order. Article 51 § 1 of the Code of Petty Offenses states: “Whoever, by shouting, noise, alarm, or other misdemeanors, disturbs peace, public order, nighttime rest, or causes public scandal, is subject to arrest, restriction of liberty, or a fine.” Does this mean that, under the above article of the criminal code, we can be fined for using fireworks and firecrackers in a private yard between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.? Allow us to quote the response of the Positive Emotions Foundation, which works to educate about pyrotechnics: “Not every use of pyrotechnic products violates peace and public order—only such use that bears the hallmarks of a misdemeanor. In practice, an action that could be considered as such must occur in specific circumstances—in a given place and environment and at a particular time when it was not to be expected—and in addition, the action elicits a negative social assessment and feelings of disgust, anger, and indignation. Therefore, a fireworks display cannot be considered a misdemeanor if it does not grossly conflict with the norms applicable in a given context (e.g., it takes place outside quiet hours and is not an expression of hooliganism) and, on the contrary, arouses positive emotions in the general public. Situations in which we use pyrotechnic products in circumstances consistent with social norms therefore include, among others, professional displays enhancing various celebrations—birthdays, weddings, or, for example, city events.” People keep repeating it because they don’t know there is no ban on using fireworks. - Foundation for the Development and Education of Pyrotechnics -> https://fundacjapirotechnika.org/ - Positive Emotions Foundation -> https://fundacjapozytywneemocje.pl/ Thanks to the creation of the above Foundations, research is being conducted on the environmental impact of fireworks as well as wide-ranging public campaigns primarily aimed at educating people on the proper use of pyrotechnics. Report any instance you find online/on the radio/on television where you notice incorrect information being conveyed.