Cities used drones to police illegal July 4 fireworks, bringing steep fines
Sacramento issued a $100,000 fireworks citation as more police and fire agencies used drones to identify violations over the holiday.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Police and fire agencies in several U.S. cities used drones to spot illegal fireworks during Fourth of July celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary, leading to citations, seizures and at least one six-figure fine. The deployments show how fast drone surveillance is becoming a routine tool for local first responders.
In Sacramento, the fire department used its own drones on July 4 for the first time and issued a $100,000 citation tied to fireworks activity in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood, CBS News Sacramento and KCRA 3 reported. Sacramento Fire Captain Justin Sylvia told CBS News Sacramento that the department’s drones can record high-resolution video and help investigators match activity to a house or nearby location using Google Maps.
KCRA 3 reported that Sacramento fire officials counted fireworks launched from a gathering near a home. The station also reported that drone footage showed a U-Haul trailer containing fireworks catch fire before people at the gathering put it out.
Sacramento County fines for illegal fireworks begin at $1,000 per device and can reach $10,000 per device when they are used near sensitive sites such as schools or parks, according to county fire guidance. County rules also allow felony criminal charges when illegal fireworks start a fire that causes property damage or injuries.
The Sacramento Fire Department issued 70 citations on July 4 totaling $300,000 in fines, according to KCRA 3. Sylvia told the station the department was also reviewing possible citations from July 2 and July 3, and said Sacramento previously issued a $1 million fine to one person in 2025.
More California agencies used drones
Other California departments also turned to drones over the holiday weekend. In Salinas, the fire department posted drone footage on Instagram showing alleged illegal fireworks activity and said it expected to issue nearly 100 citations from the weekend. Monterey County Now reported that Salinas began training 12 firefighters as certified drone pilots in 2022.
In Orange County, Anaheim police used drones to help issue 40 citations and seize 2,500 pounds of illegal fireworks, The Orange County Register reported. The same newspaper reported that Santa Ana police used drones for the first time this year and issued 107 citations to property owners at addresses where illegal fireworks were reported.
Santa Ana police said in a social media video that drone operators helped seize nearly 1,300 pounds of illegal fireworks. La Habra police also posted drone footage on Facebook and said its drone unit helped with numerous citations and some arrests for fireworks violations.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Riverside police attributed an increase in fireworks citations to drone deployments that began in 2025. The newspaper also listed Downey, Artesia, Brea, San Bernardino, Stanton, Chino, Hemet and San Jose among California cities using drones during the Fourth of July holiday.
Drone programs expand beyond fireworks
The practice was not limited to California. CBS News Texas reported that police in Lewisville, Texas, used a drone to respond to 19 fireworks incidents on July 4. The station reported that in several cases, people stopped firing fireworks and left after the drone arrived.
In Washington state, Renton police posted drone video from the holiday weekend. MyNorthwest reported that the department has used drones for three years to identify people setting off illegal fireworks in the Seattle suburb.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has said “drone as first responder” programs expanded after the Federal Aviation Administration changed its waiver process in 2025, making it faster for police and fire departments to get approval for flights beyond an operator’s direct line of sight. EFF’s Atlas of Surveillance database says more than 1,800 U.S. police departments and sheriff’s offices have operated drones.
Beryl Lipton, a senior investigative researcher at EFF, has said agencies using drones need clear rules for data retention, audits and camera use. The same holiday also showed a different role for drones: some communities used coordinated drone shows instead of fireworks, which reduces noise, smoke and fire risk compared with pyrotechnics.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.