Independence Day is just under two weeks away, and Knoxville Police Chief Aaron Fuller wants to remind residents that while the sale of fireworks is legal in the city, discharging them is illegal. 

While he understands that people want to celebrate the holiday, Chief Fuller urges residents to be considerate of their neighbors and obey the fireworks laws put in place for their safety.

“We have a high population of older people here in Knoxville, here in Marion County, and they don’t necessarily like to hear the pops and the bangs and all that. We also have a lot of veterans that live here in Knoxville and in Marion County. And sometimes, I don’t know how common it is, but those veterans seem to have issues with loud pops and bangs. I mean, I’m sure that you know where I’m going with that. And you know, there’s other things too about it that people need to take into consideration.”

Discharging fireworks in Knoxville is a misdemeanor, punishable by fine.