Brazoria County Commissioners Court in an emergency meeting on Thursday voted 3-1, with County Judge Joe King opposed, to ban fireworks for the Fourth of July weekend.
“Due to record drought levels and lack of any potential precipitation, the Brazoria County Commissioners Court has voted to ban the sale and use of all fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday season,” said a news release from the county. “This ban is consistent with similar bans in Harris, Wharton, and Galveston counties and will aid in the prevention of wildfires in Brazoria County. Violation of this ban is a Class C Misdemeanor and punishable by a $500.00 fine.”
Judge King said agreements had been reached with fireworks sales companies who now will suffer losses.
“Now, at the last minute, we are going to change it and people are out of money and the Sheriff’s Office is going to be overwhelmed with phone calls about people popping firecrackers,” King said. “I just don’t appreciate the position that we’ve been put in.”