In some parts of town, setting off fireworks on New Year's Eve is only allowed after 6 pm.
© dpa
Around three weeks before New Year's Eve, several Berlin districts have pointed out that private fireworks are only permitted between 6 pm on 31 December and 7 am on New Year's Day.
This has been the case for years. In the days leading up to New Year's Eve, private fireworks are not permitted by law anyway. On 31 December, they are permitted, but many municipalities and districts only allow fireworks from 6 pm onwards.
In Berlin, the public order offices of Reinickendorf, Pankow and Marzahn-Hellersdorf issued a corresponding general ruling last week for pyrotechnics "with an exclusively explosive effect". Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg followed suit on Monday morning. Other districts have also reacted in recent years. Nationwide, the use of fireworks is regulated by the "First Ordinance to the Explosives Act". It states that the use of standard category F 2 fireworks for New Year's Eve is only permitted throughout the year for persons with special permits.
However, there is an exception for New Year's Eve: "On 31 December and 1 January, they may also be set off by persons who have reached the age of 18." Authorities may further restrict this period in densely populated communities for firecrackers alone. In Reinickendorf, the reason given was: "In recent years, it has been noticeable that, especially during the day on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, firecrackers are increasingly being misused and set off solely for their explosive effect. This practice poses a particular danger as it disturbs public peace and safety. During the day, there are more people out and about, which increases the risk of injury and property damage. In addition, the noise causes stress and anxiety in animals and humans, which can lead to dangerous traffic situations."