JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Officials with the Jamestown Police Department tell 2 On Your Side they've had 65 complaints about fireworks going off in the area.
They say that's actually double the amount of complaints they got during the same time last year.
"We're presuming that they correlate with this is the quarantine where people are bored and just wanting to have some fun and entertainment. Unfortunately, launching fireworks in the City of Jamestown is illegal," Captain Todd Isaacson said.
Fireworks are illegal throughout New York State.
Those neighboring Jamestown even say they've noticed a difference.
"The fireworks are pretty bad this year. They weren't even that bad last year," said Natasha Blue, who lives 15 minutes away from Jamestown.
However, sparklers are allowed in the City of Jamestown and in several counties, including Chautauqua County and Erie County.
Isaacson says anyone caught with fireworks is looking at up to $1,000 in fines, and that's just the start of the consequences.
"We've put out extra targeted patrols and are issuing appearance tickets for a later court follow up for these violations," Isaacson said.
The fireworks complaints are well beyond Jamestown.
Several of you have reached out to 2 On Your Side, saying you've heard them in Cheektowaga, Angola, Dunkirk, Niagara Falls, and the list goes on. Some of you have even said your dogs are shaking from hearing those fireworks.
Will Reczek says he's been hearing them for weeks in downtown Buffalo, near Linwood Avenue.
"I have a dog too, and she's very good with fireworks, but if she wasn't, that would be a very big problem," Reczek said.
The Village of Kenmore Police Department put out a post on its Facebook page, saying they're doing "their best to locate what yards the fireworks are coming from."
Buffalo Police also say they've gotten more calls regarding fireworks.
2 On Your Side reached out to several, local police departments this evening to see how many complaints they have received, but they have not gotten back to us yet.