City Council members say illegal firework detonations have become 'unbearable' and a 'major quality of life issue' Uploaded: Thu, Jun 10, 2021, 11:26 am Anyone thinking of lighting illegal fireworks this Fourth of July, or any other time, now has another big reason to think twice: The Menlo Park City Council just enacted an urgency ordinance that makes anyone caught detonating fireworks subject to fines of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail. The discussion was brought forward from Councilwoman Cecilia Taylor, who said that illegal firework detonations in her district have had a significant impact on the community, and that after seeing a similar ordinance enacted for unincorporated county areas by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, she thought the ordinance could be a tool for the police department to get illegal fireworks off the streets.