Colorado Springs Police unable to respond to every illegal fireworks call on NYE

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Police Department is preparing to respond to a large volume of calls on New Year's Eve, but they’re hoping illegal fireworks won't be one of them.

CSPD says their officers are typically busy responding to drinking-related calls on New Year's Eve, so they don’t have time to respond to every report of illegal fireworks, which people often confuse for gunfire.

In Colorado Springs, the punishment or use of illegal fireworks can result in an over $2,000 fine.

Police said that hasn’t deterred people in the past.

“Every year we have people setting off fireworks on New Year’s Eve,” said Lieutenant James Sokolik. "We take the fireworks, and then you receive a summons, which is an arrest, and then you have to go to court.”

They’re hoping this year, it does. With El Paso County still under rigorous Covid-19 restrictions, the department isn’t sure if the amount of drinking-related calls they get will be lower or even higher.

Officials say those calls usually don’t involve just alcohol.

“A lot of the New Year's calls typically involve drinking or parties," says Sokolik. "We also respond to a lot of domestic assaults, noise complaints, and disturbances.”

Officials with CSPD said if officers are available, they will cite anyone in possession of fireworks.

However, that isn’t their main focus, especially given that grim new record set for traffic deaths in Colorado Springs -- 50 people have been killed on our roadways in 2020.

If you hear or witness the use of fireworks, you can call CSPD's non-emergency line at 719-444-7000.

They ask you only call 911 in the event of fire, injury, or other emergency.