A safer 4th of July weekend could be the result of a very aggressive effort to stop and catch those using illegal fireworks in Santa Barbara county.
An intensive efforts with police and fire investigator special task force assignments had successes starting two weeks ago. Some of the fines they applied were up to a $1000.
One man caught in the northern part of the county also had a warrant out for his arrest.
Thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks were confiscated.
The investigators watched, listened and then zeroed in on neighborhood locations where they saw fireworks going off.