As the Christmas and New Year holidays approach, and considering the experience of previous years, citizens and economic entities are intensively purchasing pyrotechnic products for subsequent use or sale.
As the Christmas and New Year holidays approach, and considering the experience of previous years, citizens and economic entities are intensively purchasing pyrotechnic products for subsequent use or sale.
In order to identify and suppress the aforementioned facts, territorial internal affairs bodies of the Vitebsk region are already carrying out a set of preventive measures, in particular, inspecting both specialized points of sale for pyrotechnic products and other possible points of sale (markets, shopping centres, shops, etc.).
In this regard, we would like to inform citizens about the rules for the sale of pyrotechnic products:
In accordance with the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 824 of 14.11.2018.
The following are prohibited from sale:
to minors under the age of 15 – as well as matches, lighters, poisons, and flammable liquids, and pyrotechnic products to minors under 16 years of age. Information on the prohibition of their sale to minors is posted at the point of sale of these goods. In case of a dispute, the buyer is obliged to present a document confirming their age.
Retail sale of pyrotechnic products is carried out in accordance with the requirements of technical regulatory legal acts of the fire safety regulation and standardization system.
Retail sale of pyrotechnic products is permitted:
- for domestic use of hazard classes 1-2 – in shops, pavilions with a sales floor; hazard class 3 – only in specialized shops, departments (sections) for the sale of pyrotechnic products. Specialized departments (sections) must be located on the upper floors of shops near external walls and have a window opening;
- for technical and special purposes – only in specialized shops. The sale of such products is permitted to persons who have permits for their use.
The transportation of pyrotechnic products is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus on the safe transportation of dangerous goods.
For violations of the rules for handling pyrotechnic devices, both administrative and criminal liability are provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.
Thus, in accordance with Art. 23.48 of the Code of Administrative Offences, for violation of the rules for accounting, use, transportation or mailing of firearms, ammunition, explosive, flammable, corrosive substances or pyrotechnic devices, a warning or a fine of up to ten basic units is provided for, and for repeated commission of the specified act, a fine of ten to twenty basic units is provided for, with or without confiscation of the object of the administrative offence.
For the use of pyrotechnic devices in public places, citizens will be brought to administrative responsibility under Art. 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences for "petty hooliganism", as these acts violate both public order and the peace of citizens, for which a fine of two to thirty basic units or administrative arrest is provided.
Criminal liability arises for damage caused to citizens' life and health by pyrotechnic devices, in particular under Art. 299 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, according to which, if grievous bodily harm or less grievous bodily harm is caused, or damage in a large amount, then such an act is punishable by correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for up to two years, or deprivation of liberty for the same term. The same act, which negligently caused the death of a person or grievous bodily harm to two or more persons, - is punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term from two to seven years.
As a rule, the use of pyrotechnic devices causes a negative reaction from citizens, their justified appeals to various authorities for measures to be taken against the perpetrators and the maintenance of proper public order, and also leads to injuries, primarily among minors.
In 2018 alone, 2 people were injured from the use of pyrotechnic devices in the Lepel district:
- On 01.01.2018 at 09:43, a resident of B. Polsvizh village, citizen B., was admitted to the reception department of the Healthcare Institution "Lepel Central District Hospital" with a diagnosis of "Traumatic amputation of the fifth finger of the left hand". While in the yard of his house, he ignited a firecracker, which exploded in his hand, causing bodily harm.
- On 01.01.2018 at 02:50, a resident of Lepel town, citizen P., was admitted to the reception room of the Healthcare Institution "Lepel Central District Hospital" with a diagnosis of "Thermal burn of the face by flame, severe contusion of the left eye". He sustained the injury from a firework explosion.
Therefore, we wish to caution residents of the district regarding the use of pyrotechnic devices to avoid severe consequences, and also to warn esteemed parents to exercise more careful supervision over their children on the eve of the New Year holidays.
In connection with the safety measures being taken at the venues of festive events, it is strictly forbidden:
- to carry cold, firearms, gas or other weapons, as well as simulators and mock-ups of these items;
- to bring in alcoholic and other beverages in glass containers, tetra-packs and dark-coloured plastic bottles, with the exception of non-alcoholic beverages in transparent plastic bottles with a capacity of no more than 0.5 litres;
- to be in the event venue in a state of severe alcoholic intoxication;
- to carry pyrotechnic devices;
- to use flags, pennants, as well as emblems, symbols, posters and banners, with the exception of State symbols and attributes developed for these purposes.
Citizens who discover suspicious items, witness or become victims of an offense, are advised to immediately inform the police by calling "102" or to contact the nearest police officer.
For the safety of citizens during the New Year and Christmas holidays, traffic will be restricted on Svobody Square in the area of mass events.
Head of the Public Order Protection Department of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs
Police Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Mikhno