A person does not have to put flame to fuse to break state fireworks laws.

North Carolina laws regulating fireworks center on possession, said Onslow County Fire Marshal Don Decker.

"It is not necessary to be caught using illegal fireworks to be charged with having them," he said. "If you go to South Carolina and purchase fireworks that are illegal here and come across the state lines with them, you have broken the law."

Possession of illegal fireworks is a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or 30 days to six months in jail.

Decker said firecrackers, ground spinners, roman candles, rockets and mortars are illegal in North Carolina.

"Basically, if it explodes or shoots a projectile, it's illegal," said Sgt. Sean Magill of the Jacksonville Police Department.

Jacksonville Fire Marshal John Reed said explosive fireworks, which are sold legally in South Carolina and many other states, are illegal here.

"Anything that propels or leaves the ground or explodes is illegal - basically (legal fireworks are) limited to fountains and sparklers," Reed said.

He said getting caught transporting fireworks across state lines can get expensive if the person is busted.

"Fireworks will be confiscated, and you can get a minimum civil citation starting at $50 per violation if you are caught transporting fireworks over state lines or have them in your possession," he said. "This can be a real hardship for those who have spent a couple hundred dollars on fireworks and are caught."

Fireworks were totally illegal in North Carolina until 1993 when House Bill 1089 allowed for certain non-explosive fireworks.

Permitted fireworks include:

• caps for toy pistols
• snake and glow worms that emit a snake-like ash when burning
• smoke devices that produce white or colored smoke
• trick noisemakers
• wire sparklers

other hand-held or ground-based sparkling devices that emit showers of sparks, sometimes whistle or crack when burning but do not detonate, explode, spin or propel themselves through the air

Contact crime reporter Lindell Kay at lkay@freedomenc.com or 910-554-8534. Read Lindell's blog at http://onslowcrime.encblogs.com.