City offices will be closed on July 4th, but the Owasso Police Department will be open for business as usual throughout the holiday weekend. We hope everyone has a safe and happy Independence Day celebration, but please remember a few key points:
Fireworks nuisance complaints are always a problem this time of year and it often puts a serious strain on OPD’s limited resources. Per Owasso Ordinance 10-304: Fireworks such sparklers and fountains that remain STATIONARY and DO NOT MAKE NOISE are allowed inside the city limits, but the discharge of all other fireworks is illegal in Owasso and carries a potential fine of $169.00 per violation. Officers will be responding to fireworks complaints and they will be issuing citations to violators of the ordinance when appropriate. Our officers don’t enjoy the prospect of coming to your house to write you a ticket for setting off a string of firecrackers in the street, but we have a responsibility and an obligation to respond when a complaint is received. Please keep in mind that every minute an officer spends on a firework complaint, it takes away from the time spent patrolling neighborhoods for burglars, working DUI enforcement or responding to more urgent calls for assistance from the public. The increased call volume also requires OPD to call in off-duty officers and dispatchers to meet the increased demand for service; this is an added overtime expense to the OPD budget (and ultimately to your tax dollars). Make the choice to save money for yourself and save resources for OPD: choose to attend one of the many public fireworks displays in our area or choose a LEGAL location to set off your own fireworks.
If you consume alcohol as part of your celebration, please do so responsibly and use a designated driver. As with all holidays, OPD and other law enforcement agencies will be placing special emphasis on DUI enforcement this weekend.
As the rumble of fireworks displays echo through the night sky, don’t forget about the effect this is having on your pets at home in the back yard. Even the noise from small fireworks can cause panic, fear, pain and disorientation for small animals. A normally well-behaved dog can be overwhelmed by the noise and seek an escape by jumping the fence to get away. The animal shelter always sees an increase in lost pets this time of year and it is recommended that you keep your pets inside for their safety and comfort.
McCarty Park was annexed by the city earlier this year and therefore the fireworks prohibition now applies to this facility as well as the Sports Complex.