Launch illegal fireworks in the coming days and you could find a $1,000 citation in the mail from the Manteca Police.

That’s what happened to 109 people last year that ended up being assessed $130,255 in fines and administrative fees.

And given last year was the first time a more stepped up and coordinated deployment of drones was conducted, the expectations are the number of people cited this year will be as high or even higher.

Manteca isn’t the only department that has turned to drones to nail users of illegal fireworks. Last year, Elk Grove employed drones and issued 41 citations resulting in $330,000 in fines. The Elk Grove penalty is $1,000 per illegal launch with a cap of $10,000 per household

Other jurisdictions such as Ceres this year opted to take fines even higher than $1,000 by taking advantage of new maximums allowed by the state.

Get caught in Ceres using illegal fireworks its $2,500 for the first violation, $3,500 for the second valuation and $4,500 each for the third and subsequent valuations with 36 months.

Ceres also levies a $10,000 fine for selling, manufacturing or distributing illegal fireworks.

Starting Thursday, July 2, through Sunday, July 5, Manteca Police will have:

*Multiple drone teams roaming the skies throughout Manteca.

*A number of enforcement teams will be driving around Manteca.

Citizens can also alert police regarding illegal fireworks via the city’s government outreach app.

The drones will be the biggest threat to the pocketbooks of lawbreakers.

Drones using high resolution video and global positioning systems to nail the exact property where illegal fireworks were launched.

Manteca Police officers are not dispatched to advise offending property owners they will be cited.

Instead, the data gleaned from drones meets and exceeds the threshold for issuing administrative citations to city property owners under California’s host law.

That means the homeowner — regardless whether they reside at the home in question or rent it — will be cited.

Manteca Police Lt. Ian Osborn stressed the maximum enforcement is being done to address:

*the real fire danger from aerial fireworks that have embers that can float substantial distances and start fires.

*the potential of physical harm to people.

*disturbing the peace calls that often continue into 3 a.m. in the morning from the launching of illegal fireworks.

*the effect the illegal fireworks have on dogs and cats.

*serious problems the repetitive blasting noises pose for those with PSTD trauma.

The $1,000 fine was implemented last year after the previous $500 fines didn’t deter many illegal firework launches.

The City Council jacked it up to make sure people get the message.

An address can get multiple citations over the enforcement period.

That means if drones confirm illegal fireworks activity for three nights at the same address, the property owner will be fined $3,000.

The Go Manteca app will be monitored by city personnel in real time.

That means within minutes, if all of the illegal fireworks enforcement teams aren’t tied up elsewhere, police could respond.

And given since most who launch illegal fireworks don’t simply do one and they are done, it will greatly increase the odds of the city being alerted by app of illegal pyrotechnic activities that a $1,000 citation will end up being issued.

With the Fourth falling on a Saturday, police and fire staffing will be stepped up over the three-day weekend and not just on Independence Day.

The city also has conducted an advertising blitz reminding people not to fire off illegal fireworks and the $1,000 fine that awaits if they are caught.

Osborn noted there have been a handful offenders that received a $500 citation in 2024 and then a $1,000 citation last year.

Police are hoping the bigger financial sting will deter them from launching illegal fireworks this year.

In Manteca, illegal fireworks are defined as any firework that explodes, flies into the air, or behaves in an uncontrollable and unpredictable manner. By local and California state law, the only permitted items are "Safe and Sane" fireworks that bear the State Fire Marshal seal.

Safe and Sane fireworks can be launched from now to midnight on Saturday, July 4. State law requires jurisdictions that take allow them to be sold for a seven day period ending on July 4 to also allow them to be legally used.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyattmantecabulletin.com