By Greg Avery
Camera Staff Writer

People caught with illegal campfires and fireworks in Boulder should expect a lecture from a judge before paying a fine.

Where writing the city a check was once enough, Boulder's Municipal Court this week ordered that all people facing such charges appear before a city judge.

City Judges Mark Cohen and Linda Cooke issued the order Wednesday due to concerns over the area's drought.

"The fire danger is so extreme. They're trying to raise people's awareness around that," said City Court Administrator Lynne Reynolds.

The Boulder Fire Department strongly supports the judge's idea due to the high fire danger, said Ray Mullins, assistant city fire marshal.

According to court records, the city issued 149 tickets for illegal fireworks in 2000 and 2001. The city court handled 618 illegal camping tickets over the same time period, though it is not known how many of those involved campfires.

A conviction for illegally lighting a campfire or using fireworks can result in a fine of as much as $1,000 and 90 days in jail.

Contact Greg Avery at (303) 473-1307 or averyg@thedailycamera.com.

June 3, 2002

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