Times Staff Report

KOUTS | The town on Monday joined the rapidly growing list of communities that limit the use of fireworks to the minimum allowed by state law.

The Kouts council unanimously passed an ordinance limiting the use of all fireworks to 13 days a year and imposing a fine of $100 for the first violation. Subsequent violations of the ordinance can result in a fine of up to $2,500.

Clerk-Treasurer Greg Frame said the town received relatively few complaints about the use of fireworks after state law was changed last year to allow the use of all fireworks at all hours every day of the year.

After protests from communities across the state about the noise and the hours, state legislators amended the law to give communities the option of limiting the use to certain hours 13 days each year.

The Kouts ordinance restricts fireworks use to 5 p.m. until two hours after sunset June 29 and 30, July 1 to 3 and July 5 to 9. Fireworks also are allowed from 10 a.m. to midnight July 4 and from 10 a.m. Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1.