Opinion ID: 1184689
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: definition of fireworks

Text: The statutes relative to fireworks, §§ 35-10-201 through XX-XX-XXX, W.S. 1977, provide in pertinent part: Section 35-10-201: (a) `Fireworks' means and includes any article, device or substance prepared for the primary purpose of producing a visual or auditory sensation by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation, including, without limitation the following articles and devices commonly known and used as fireworks; toy cannons or toy canes in which explosives are used, blank cartridges, firecrackers, torpedoes, skyrockets, Roman candles, and daygo bombs, but not including soft shell firecrackers not to exceed one (1) inch in length and one-eighth inch in diameter, sparklers, Vesuvius fountains, spray fountains, torches, color fire cones, star and comet type aerial shells without explosive charge for the purpose of making a noise, color wheels, toy cap pistols, and toy caps each of which does not contain more than twenty-five hundredths of a gram of explosive material. (b) `Governing body' means the board of county commissioners as to the area within a county but outside the corporate limits of any city or town; or means the city council or other governing body of a city or town as to the area within the corporate limits of such city or town. Section 35-10-202: Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale at retail, expose for sale at retail, sell at retail, give away, use, discharge or detonate any fireworks in the state of Wyoming. Section 35-10-205: This act [§§ 35-10-201 to XX-XX-XXX] shall not be construed to prohibit the imposition by municipal ordinance of further regulations or prohibitions upon the sale, use and possession of fireworks within the corporate limits of any city or town, but no such city or town shall permit or authorize the sale, use, or possession of any fireworks in violation of this act. Sections 35-10-203, 35-10-204, 35-10-206 and 35-10-207 provide for issuance of permits by governing bodies for supervised public displays as exceptions to the prohibitions of the act; for other exceptions such as use for mining purposes, etc.; for seizing and disposing of fireworks involved in violation of the act; and for a misdemeanor penalty upon conviction for violating the provisions of the act. All portions of the act must be read in pari materia, and every word, clause and sentence of it must be given effect, State Board of Equalization v. Cheyenne Newspapers, Inc., Wyo., 611 P.2d 805 (1980); State ex rel. Albany County Weed and Pest District v. Board of County Commissioners of Albany County, Wyo., 592 P.2d 1154 (1979); Department of Revenue and Taxation v. Irvine, Wyo., 589 P.2d 1295 (1979), all with the purpose of ascertaining and giving effect to the legislative intent, Sanches v. Sanches, Wyo., 626 P.2d 61 (1981); Oroz v. Hayes, Wyo., 598 P.2d 432 (1979); McGuire v. McGuire, Wyo., 608 P.2d 1278 (1980). Section 35-10-202 prohibits an offer for sale, use, etc., of fireworks in the state of Wyoming, and § 35-10-201(a) defines fireworks as that which explodes, detonates, etc., but excluding certain named devices such as sparklers, Vesuvius fountains, soft-shelled firecrackers not to exceed a specified size, etc. But § 35-10-205 allows a city to impose further regulations or prohibitions upon the sale, use and possession of fireworks if such does not authorize the sale, use or possession    in violation of the act. If the definition of fireworks in § 35-10-201(a) were taken to preclude a city from regulating or prohibiting the sale, use or possession of more restrictive devices, as argued by appellant, § 35-10-205 would be meaningless and of no operative effect. The legislature will not be presumed to intend futile things. Yeik v. Department of Revenue and Taxation, Wyo., 595 P.2d 965 (1979); DeHerrera v. Herrera, Wyo., 565 P.2d 479 (1977); Kuntz v. Kinne, Wyo., 395 P.2d 286 (1964). The enactment restricts the offer for sale, use, etc., of the larger, more powerful, fireworks in the state of Wyoming, but it authorizes cities and towns to further restrict or prohibit the offer for sale, use, etc., of the smaller, less powerful, fireworks within their corporate limits. Even without the authorization contained in § 35-10-205 for cities to ordain further prohibitions or restrictions on the smaller, less powerful, fireworks, Art. 13, § 1(b) of the Wyoming Constitution [2] empowers cities to place limitations or prohibitions on the smaller, less powerful, fireworks. This because the smaller, less powerful, fireworks were excluded from that prohibited by state legislation and, thus, there is no statute concerning them which is uniformly applicable to all cities and towns. The Ordinance is not subject to, subordinate to or subservient to §§ 35-10-201 through XX-XX-XXX. It concerns that deliberately excluded from such sections. It includes that which is not applicable to any city or town, let alone that which is uniformly so applicable. See Laramie Citizens, Etc. v. City of Laramie, Wyo., 617 P.2d 474 (1980).