Ringing in the New Year doesn’t mean compromising the safety of yourself or others. Residents are reminded that the City of Round Rock explicitly prohibits the sale or use of any fireworks.

Use or possession of fireworks is a crime punishable by a fine of up to $2,000.

Fireworks include devices which make a visible or audible effect when set off. The City’s ordinance specifically outlaws possession and use of sparklers, skyrockets and firecrackers.

Most firework burn injuries involve children. These are usually burns to the hands and eyes causing vision impairment and disfiguring scars. Sparklers are the biggest danger to children. The tip temperature at the end of the sparkler reaches 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and can easily cause a burn.

And just because you live outside the City limits doesn’t mean it is legal to discharge fireworks. There is a 5,000-foot fireworks-free zone outside City limits in Williamson County. This map shows where fireworks cannot be discharged — hint: it’s pretty much everywhere in Round Rock. Under state law, fireworks stands are still allowed on some parcels of land almost or completely surrounded by a city’s limits, but have not been annexed into the city; however, fireworks still cannot be discharged in any areas highlighted in the map below.