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The LaGrange City Council is considering an amendment to its noise ordinance to prohibit the shooting of fireworks between 9 p.m. and 2 p.m., with exceptions for certain holidays.

The council first discussed the idea at its July 14 work session, where city officials said they had heard from residents that people were shooting fireworks late at night and into the early morning hours, several days after the Fourth of July. 

Council Member W.T. Edmondson said at the meeting that his mother had called him, believing that gunshots were being fired in the area, and that he had to reassure her they were fireworks.

After questions around enforcement arose, LaGrange Police Department Chief Lou Dekmar said violators would receive a citation and not be arrested, should the ordinance be approved. 

Under state law, consumer fireworks are already prohibited from being fired after midnight, except on certain holidays, and can be fired starting at 10 a.m. on non-holidays days. 

Those holiday regulations which would allow fireworks to be shot from 10 a.m. until midnight on the last Saturday and Sunday in May (Memorial Day weekend), July 3 and July 4. Fireworks can be fired from 10 a.m. on New Year’s Eve until 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

The council will have a public hearing and second reading of the ordinance at its meeting on Aug. 25. The meeting will take place at Great Wolf Lodge as part of the council’s annual retreat.